Transcendent Policy

Transcendent Policy

The Structural and Functional Cycle of Public Diplomacy in Iran's Foreign Policy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hadi Akhondi Nemat Abad 1
Ebrahim Mottaghi 2
Reza Shirzadi 3
1 Ph.D., International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
2 Professor, Department of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
10.22034/sm.2023.1989956.2036
Abstract
The present study aims to examine the structural and functional cycle of public diplomacy in Iran's foreign policy. The research is based on the hypothesis that "the structural and functional cycle of Iran's public diplomacy is shaped by the inspiration and institutions of public diplomacy of the Islamic Republic, focused on exporting the revolution." This study employs the soft power, identity, and public diplomacy approach of John Milson. The results indicated that after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran's public diplomacy was influenced by international pressures and strategic limitations. Each foreign policy agent in Iran attempted to create the necessary conditions for employing cooperative mechanisms with international politics, resulting in the formation of three discourses: "representations," "symbols," and "executive rules" in the JCPOA and post-JCPOA context. Each discourse possessed the necessary capability to influence the public diplomacy mechanisms of Iran's foreign policy in the interactive action space. In the post-JCPOA environment, Iran's public diplomacy was based on multilateral action mechanisms. In this process, Iran's efforts were aimed at minimizing the economic threats arising from the re-imposition of post-JCPOA sanctions, which significantly impacted Iran's political economy space.
Keywords
Public diplomacy
Iran's foreign policy
JCPOA
Foreign relations
International relations
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Transcendent Policy
Volume 11, Issue 4
Autumn 2023
Pages 317-338