Surveying and Analyzing the Geopolitical Interests of Foreign Actors in Syrian Geopolitical Crisis

پژوهش ‎های جغرافیای سیاسی

Article 6, Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 6, July 2017   

Document Type: مقالات علمی -پژوهشی

DOI: 10.22067/pg.v2i8.73278

Authors

Mohammad Hossein Afshordi¹; Esmeil Alamdar^{* 2}

¹Supreme National Defense University

²Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

Extended abstract

Introduction

West and Southwest Asia are the most turbulent geopolitical regions of the world. Over the past half century, this region has been the area of competition and the interests of major global and regional powers. Because of the special geopolitical situation in the western part of Syria, the country has become an area of rivalry of powers. The Syrian crisis is different from other crises in the region in terms of gender, causes and outcomes, and the geopolitical factor plays an important role. However, recognizing the geopolitical interests of each of the actors is a key interfere.

Theoretical Framework

Geopolitics is the study of the interactions between geography, power and politics, and the actions arising from the combination of these elements with each other. Geopolitics presents a large picture and proposes a method for linking local and regional developments with the system and the global system as a whole. One of the basic concepts in geopolitics is geopolitical interest, which is supposed geographical and supra-geographical supplements across borders, which are structurally and functionally homogeneous to meet the needs and shortcomings of a country. Geopolitical interest somehow forms the basis of national interests and profits of countries. In geopolitical crises, interventionist countries seek their own national interests, which can be analyzed in the framework of the theory of balance of power.  In other words, such countries in a critical geopolitical region are looking for their geopolitical interests based on their national interests; these variables can be analyzed in the framework of the theory of balance of power.
 
 

Method

The method used in this research is based on the descriptive-analytic approach and is a type of applied-development research. Regarding the nature and type of subject matter of the study, the collection of data and information has been carried out in a variety of ways and in general based on the library method and has been used from internal and external sources in this field. This research tries to explore the geopolitical interests of the most important actors in the above-mentioned levels in the form of a multi-level model with a descriptive-analytical method.

Results and Discussion

The geopolitical interests of Iran as the most important regional actor are maintaining and expanding the circle of resistance and expanding its geopolitical area in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, destroying the terrorist groups and cutting off their ties with the West-Arab-Turkish axis and defending the Shi'ite ideology. In contrast, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel, with the USA support, are also seeking to reduce the geopolitical and the geostrategic role of Iran and disassociate these resistance movements and their destruction. In addition, on the regional level, Turkey has a dynamic and complex position in its active presence in the West Asia and Syria. However, this instability in the regional policy of Turkey has made a confusion for its geopolitical interests. This has not made Turkey a success in pursuing its other geopolitical interests except for the hydrophilic Forat. Meanwhile, at a global level investigating this geopolitical crisis, Russia seeks to have a naval base and its hegemony overcome in West Asia, and on the other hand, the United States seeks to maintain its own interests in the Middle East and compensate for unsuccessful experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since each of them seeks to increase their global hegemony and expand their perspectives, their geopolitical interests are not close to the Syrian issue.

Conclusion

In the Syrian geopolitical crisis, the most important foreign actors on the regional level are Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, and Russia and the United States on the global level. These countries, while having common interests, have their own geopolitical interests. Iran, as one of the most important foreign actors, in addition to its ideological goals in Syria, has sought to achieve such interests as placing the Zionist regime in a geostrategic bottleneck and expanding the area of power of the ring of resistance with the help of Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In the end, two points can be acknowledged: firstly, the main source of insecurity in the West and Southwest Asia is the Zionist regime, which, with its unshakable support, is trying to get rid of the geostrategic bottleneck and seeks to eliminate the flow of resistance with the support of the Western-Arab Front.  Second, the issue of the Syrian geopolitical crisis, more than any other period in the history of the relations between Iran and Russia, brings together the geopolitical interests of the two countries and directs the two countries from a tactical alliance to a strategic alliance.

Keywords

Geopolitical interests; Syria; regional and global actors

References

1. Ahadian, M. (2008). Geography of security of neighboring countries. Tehran: Shahid Sayyad Shirazi educational and research center. (In Persian)

2. Ahmadi, Gh. & Bahrami, Z. (2015). US performance in Chemical disarmament Syrian. Defense Policy Magazine. 23(3), 199-227. (In Persian)

3. Ahmadian, M. (2009). Geographical Features of Islamic Countries. Mashhad: Sokhan Gostar Publications. (In Persian)

4. Al- Tamini, N. (2012). China Saudi Arabia relations : economic partnership or strategic alliance? The Middle East Journal. 4(68). 649-651. ]In English[

5. Babajanipour, Z. (2013). US strategy in Syria from 2011-2012. Journal of Regional Studies. 14(2), 115-140. (In Persian)

6. Cohen, S. (2008). Global Geopolitical System. Translated by Abbas Kardan. Tehran: Contemporary Abrar Institute Publications. (In Persian)

7. Dehghan, Y, Ketabi, M. & Jafarinezhad, M. (2016). Ethnic-religious differences and its impact on the formation of radicalism in Syria. Quarterly journal of political and international research of Islamic Azad University of Shahreza Branch. 8(29), 97-127. (In Persian)

8. Dehshiri, M. & Golestan, M. (2014). The Great Powers' Handwriting in Managing the Syrian International Crisis in the Multi-Polar System. International Journal of Political Studies, Islamic Azad University. Shahreza Branch. 8(27), 1-38. (In Persian)

9. Emerson, M, Pitersi, O. & Gerikoori, M. (2002). Balance of Power. Translating Research Institute for Strategic Studies, First Edition. Tehran: Strategic Studies Research Institute (In Persian)

10. Fatemi Nasab, A. & Chegini, A. (2011). Turkish foreign policy and developments in Syria and its impact on political security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Quarterly Journal of Political and International Studies of Azad University, Shahreza Branch, 3(9), 171-184. (In Persian)

11. Ghadeen, A. (2001). Travel Dates and Pilgrimage Places of Damascus, Fifth Edition. Tehran: Mouser's publication. (In Persian)

12. Ghasemian, R. (2013). Investigation into Syrian developments Roots, actors and outcomes. Tehran: Publications of the Secretariat of Islamic Awakening Studies. (In Persian)

13. Hafeznia, M. (2006). Geopolitical Principles and Concepts. Tehran: Papoli Publications. (In Persian)

14. Hafeznia, M. (2010). Power and National Interests. Tehran: Entekhab Publishing. (In Persian)

15. Jafari Veldani, A. (1999). Syria and Turkey disagreements over Hataa region. Foreign Policy Magazine. 13(3), 763-788. (In Persian)

16. Kavousi, R. (2016). A comparative study of Iran-Saudi Arabia and Turkey's foreign policy toward Syria. Tehran: Master’s thesis at Tarbiat Modares University. (In Persian)

17. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2008). Syria. Green Cover .Tehran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Printing and Publishing. (In Persian)

18. Mohammad Khani, R. (2009). Explaining the New Realism Approach in International Relations. Political Studies Quarterly. 1(3), 83-100. (In Persian)

19. Mousavi, H. (2009). Syrian and Israel negotiations: foundations, trends and complexity. Strategic Studies Quarterly. 12(1), 119-162. (In Persian)

20. Movaphaghiyan, P, Ahmadi, S. & Azimi, Y. (2012). Investigating and evaluating the geographic composition of Durrani forces and their external tendencies. Quarterly Journal of Applied Geosciences Research. 12(27), 111-122. (In Persian)

21. Niakuye, S. & Bahmanesh, H. (2012). Opposite actors in Syria: Goals and Approaches. Foreign Relations Quarterly. 5(4), 97-135. (In Persian)

22. Nozari, F. (2016). The effect of geopolitical interests of the Oman Sea Region actors on defining the defense strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal of Defense Policy. 24(95), 35-72. (In Persian)

23. OTauthail, G. Dolby, S. & Routledge, P. (2001). Geopolitical thoughts in the twentieth century. (Hafezia, M.R. & Nasiri, H., Trans.), Tehran: Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (In Persian)

24. Rahmatipour, L. (2014). Strategic Culture of China's Dialogue on International Crisis Management (Case Study of the Syrian Crisis). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Economics. Management, Accounting and Social Sciences. Rasht: June 31. (In Persian)

25. Rajabi, S. (2012). Analyzing the status and strategic role of Syria in regional and international relations with a glimpse of recent developments in Syria. Magazine Fifteen Khordad. 10(34), 123-155. (In Persian)

26. Sadeghi, S. Akhavan Kazemi, M. & Lotfi, K. (2015). Syria crisis and geopolitical controversy of regional powers. Islamic World Political Studies Quarterly. 4(16), 107-128. (In Persian)

27. Sajedi, A. (2013). Syria crisis and the interference of foreign powers. International Relations Quarterly. 6(24), 125-155. (In Persian)

28. Sardarnaia, Kh. & Kayani, F. (2017). Analysis of the Syrian crisis from the perspective of social gaps. The Political Science Sociology of the Islamic World. 4(1).111-132. (In Persian)

29. Sarei Olghalam, M. (1999). Foreign Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran: A Theoretical Review and Coalition Paradigm. Tehran: Strategic Research Center. (In Persian)

30. Shams Dolatabadi, M. & Hafeznia, M.R. & Afshordi, M.H. (2007). Geopolitical interests of Iran in Central Asia and advanced opportunities. Geopolitical Quarterly. 3(3), 78-119. (In Persian)

31. Sheikholeslami, M.H. & Beigi, M. (2013).Analysis of the role of the Russian Federation and the policies of the Russian Federation towards the Syrian crisis. Horizens of Security. 6(20), 137-166. (In Persian)

32. Simbar, R. & Ghorbani, A. (2014). Islamism in the international system, Approaches and Approaches. Tehran: Imam Sadiq University Press. (In Persian)

33. Www. dur.ac.uk/alsabah/publications/insights/

34. Www. farsnews.com/news/13970709000063/ 6

35. Www. hafeznia.ir/index.php/news/94

36. Www. mashreghnews.ir/news/901556/

37. Www. syria.liveuamap.com