Factors Affecting Syria and the Islamic Republic of Iran's Strategic Alliance in the 1980s

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Corresponding Author: PhD student in International Relations from Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor of International Relations, Political Science Department, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

3 Professor of International Relations, Political Science Department, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

One of the most significant, uncommon, and enduring alliances in Middle Eastern politics and security over the last few decades has been that between Iran and Syria. This alliance, which was formed at the beginning of the 1980s and was one of the external effects of the Islamic Revolution's victory, was brought about by changes to other regional alliances and alignments. Despite numerous analyses, it did not collapse quickly; rather, it was strengthened and extended, not only to Syria and Iran but also to Lebanon, Palestine, and other areas of the region, ultimately leading to the formation of the Resistance Axis. This paper aims to address this question: What factors and components influenced the formation and strengthening of the Iranian-Syrian alliance in the 1980s? The paper's hypothesis is that the material and semantic contexts that created the model of friendship and cooperation, as well as close security interaction between Iran and Syria, formed and strengthened their alliance in the 1980s, countering common threats and securing common interests. Examining the issue with the use of regional security complex theory, the analytical-descriptive method, and library and internet sources shows that the most important security considerations (physical and semantic) and the components that shaped and strengthened the alliance between Iran and Syria have consisted of: the existence of common identity, ideological and strategic platforms and fields, and common interests and threats resulting from it at the regional level. As for the regional security complex theory, the analytical-descriptive method, and library and internet sources indicates that the most important security considerations (physical and semantic) and the components that shaped and strengthened the alliance between Iran and Syria have consisted of: the existence of common identity, ideological and strategic platforms and fields, and common interests and threats resulting from it at the regional level, Common perception of the Zionist regime's threat in the region, the existence of revisionist ideologies, and ideological commonalities in opposition to America and conflict with the Zionist regime, Iran and Syria's confrontation with security threat from Iraq and confronting its supremacy, Syria's support of Iran during Iraq's war, the role of ideological religious communities, the efforts of the two countries of Iran and Syria to gain religious legitimacy at the external levels, and to secure the interests of Iran and Syria in the form of unity in the Arab world.

Keywords


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Volume 17, Issue 62 - Serial Number 1
Spring 2024
April 2024
Pages 93-136
  • Receive Date: 14 May 2023
  • Revise Date: 20 September 2023
  • Accept Date: 30 April 2024
  • Publish Date: 20 April 2024