خلاصة:
What paved the way for the establishment of the foreign policy of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran? This paper seeks to analyze the phenomenon of the construction of the enemy image in the diplomatic history of Iran from 1798 to 1921 and assess its historical roots as it can be useful for the understanding of the attitudes of Iranian policy makers towards the West. The authors’ proposal is to explain the construction of enemy image in a historical context in the cognitive structure of Iranian political leaders towards the great powers in the 20th century until the advent of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979. In doing so, the authors have proposed the following hypothesis: With the continuation of Iran’s diplomatic relations with Western powers (Great Britain and Russia) under the Qajar dynasty in 1798, a process took shape which gradually led to the construction of an enemy image in the cognitive structure of future Iranian statesmen in the Pahlavi era, underpinning their political relationships with contemporary powers. The authors’ findings include the notion that the historical process in question under the Qajar Dynasty involved a combination of military domination, political influence and economic exploitation by the aforementioned powers.
ملخص الجهاز:
In doing so, the authors have proposed the following hypothesis: With the continuation of Iran’s diplomatic relations with Western powers (Great Britain and Russia) under the Qajar dynasty in1798, a process took shape which gradually led to the construction of anenemy image in the cognitive structure of future Iranian statesmen in the Pahlavi era, underpinning their political relationships with contemporary powers.
Keywords: Iran, Diplomatic Relations, Qajars, Great Britain, Russia, Enemy Image Associate Professor, University of Tehran (atai53@gmail.
Considering the above, an essential question is raised concerning how the construction of enemy image in Iranian political leaders’ cognitive structure towards the great powers of the 20th century, till the advent of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979, can be explained in a historical framework.
Here the article seeks to review works on Iranian diplomatic relations and foreign policy conduct in a historical context in order to explain why Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Shah’s cognitive structure was based upon an enemy image of world powers.
The problem might be traced back to the Turkmenchay Treaty in which Russia promised to support Abbas Mirza and his descendents as heirs to the Persian throne after the death of Fath Ali Shah and continued reign of the Qajar dynasty was certified and supported by a foreign power (Amanat, 1993: 36).
In fact, Iran’s diplomatic relations with Britain and Russia between 1798 and 1921, with all the factors discussed in this section, shaped a cognitive structure for the next periods, reflecting the enemy image towards the great powers.