The Relationship Between National Interests and Ideology in the Foreign Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

The concepts of ideology and national interests tend to exhibit a propensity for contradiction and conflict when the foreign policy of a political system is ideologically intense or, in other words, inclined to prioritize idealism over realism. The research method used in this article is descriptive and analytical. In terms of the role of variables, national interests and ideology are considered independent variables, while foreign policy is the dependent variable. In response to the research question, the article proposes the following hypothesis: “Despite the emphasis of proponents of the integrative approach on the compatibility of the concepts of ideology and national interests in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the relationship between the two is incongruent and has diverged from national interests under the influence of ideological doctrines.” In such cases, ideals both reinforce and emerge from ideology, while national interests are rooted in and inspired by realism. Therefore, the orientation of a country’s foreign policy becomes meaningfully linked to the concepts and themes of ideology and national interests, drawing closer to or distancing from each based on the type and nature of the political system’s foreign policy. In this sense, a realist foreign policy offers an expansive interpretation of national interests and adopts a restrictive stance toward ideology. Conversely, an idealist foreign policy is closely tied to ideology in its conventional sense and tends to narrow the scope of national interests. Furthermore, a realist foreign policy, in terms of methodology, is devoid of value judgments and can be described as positivist. According to established principles, its benefits typically outweigh its costs and it engages consistently with international standards in ongoing interaction and pursuit. However, an idealist or ideologically driven foreign policy simultaneously rejects the established order in the international system and seeks to initiate a new model for global governance, aiming to alter existing values and norms. In this pursuit, it favors subjective rules over objective laws. Within this framework, the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is an example of political conduct that, through a pronounced ideological orientation, has subordinated its national interests. Based on this, the fundamental question posed by the article—which aligns with its title—is the following: What is the nature of the relationship between national interests and ideology in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and from what source is this relationship nourished?