Foreign Policy Strategies towards Economic Development; Comparative Study of the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran (2004-2013)

Abstract

Foreign policy is a complex of goals, orientations, and instruments that a state adopts vis-a-vis other states in order to achieve its national interests. The aim of foreign policy is to provide security, which covers a spectrum from territorial integrity to the development of economic facilities. After the collapse of the cold war bipolar system, the economic development has become the main agenda of developing countries' foreign policy. In the new era which is characterized by globalization, providing economic interests could be achieved through an active and development-oriented foreign policy. The emergence of the global political economy and the major changes in the principles of foreign policy directions, are reflecting the undeniable effects of state’s foreign policy strategies over the economic power. This article, by using a comparative approach and qualitative method, investigates the influence of Turkey and Iran’s foreign policy strategies on their economic development. To bourgeon Turkish economy and improve its position in the global economy, Turkey in the period of the current government (AKP) utilizes pragmatic, proactive, and development-oriented foreign policy strategies including westernization, regionalism, and peaceful coexistence which has led to an unprecedented economic growth. In contrast, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the period of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013), because of the emphasis on revolutionary ideas and aggressive strategies in foreign policy, has experienced irreversible economic stagnation.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p711