Iran and Internationalization of Diplomacy

 

 

Iran deserves having a positive face and playing an international role; and to attain this goal it needs international diplomacy. Hence, it must have a key role in resolving international disputes and in international policymaking. Considering the importance of positive face, active participation in global discussions, participation in global economy, and assuming a role in resolving international disputes are essentials of internationalization.

Diplomacy, as the management of relations between ‘countries’ and ‘countries and other agents’ via peaceful means, is a tool and rarely a goal itself. Here, my first thesis is that every country or agent must adopt a rational strategy in its encounter with the international community. This strategy may be realistic or idealistic; [however,] I intend a practical and realistic strategy. My second thesis is that every country must have a correct understanding of its relative strength and know its position. My third thesis concerns knowing national interests. Every country must identify its national interests correctly. My fourth thesis holds that, as a nation, every country must have a correct understanding of its objectives. We must ask ourselves: what are our goals? By what means can they be achieved? When establishing relations, and in interactions, every nation must consider these four theses.

Objectives of foreign diplomacy are based on some foundations: striving to achieve a certain goal, which is manifested in a movement; and defining national interests: we must know what we are seeking.

National interests fall into four categories: first, security and power (which is usually deterrent). Second, dynamic economic development. I stress on ‘dynamic’ since the rate of development of each country must be competitive in comparison with other countries. We will remain far behind if our rate of development is 5 and that of others is 8. Third is the welfare of citizens. Fourth is possession of a fair share among other world governments. A state can be proud of itself when it is the same level as world governments. All these four categories are constituents of national interests; therefore, we should define them correctly in order to understand foreign diplomacy correctly.

Several matters are central in a global strategy. One of them is having a dynamic point of view and consideration of global neighborhood. Affairs will not remain good or bad forever, since we live in a world that enjoys an ongoing process of change and progress. Second is collective involvement. There is no single actor in the world that asserts of having the power to do anything it desires. The ‘all or nothing’ strategy is not acceptable from a dynamic point of view. We must embrace compromise as an essential. Next is to avoid adopting a static point of view towards the world. We always complain about the international community and recognize it as the agent that blocks our progress. With such a static attitude we have talked of being contained and oppressed, claiming that we can’t change our status quo.

Each country must ask this question that to where it does belong? The world has an order, based on which some act and some don’t. The question is: do we belong to this order? Are we a member of the international community? As a nation, our relation with the international community must be defined. If we think of ourselves as outsiders and different, we must take relevant measures to attain our goals. We must rise up against this unfair order. Of course that needs substantial power.

Our move must take place inside the global order, as well as outside the order. It is true that our identity is different from other members of the international community, but meanwhile we are a part of this community.

To take measures from inside the global system there are some requisites, the first of which is creating an acceptable face. Even as an individual in a local community we need a popular face to succeed in establishing communication. This is a lengthy process which can bring either threats or security for us and is sometimes even more important and effective than exercising power. Throughout this process we must be a persistent actor and also regard coherence, because whatever happens across the world is a product of this coherent structure and that’s a fact.

The second requisites are diplomacy and negotiations. The third are international institutions. Non-participating countries can not affect global decision-makings positively.

To bring about changes also from outside the global system there are some other requisites. One of them is to have dynamic international NGOs that act in a global scale. Next is having a competitive economy in order to create a positive face and introduce our culture to others. Another requisite is knowledge. We must have faculties and academic centers which are active in a global scale. To cause changes from outside, we need military power and powerful economy and we should challenge the dominant system and rise up against it.

Alliance with other countries and strategic coalitions are two strategies that we need in international relations. Do you want to be a single actor? Or you want to ally with others? Are you powerful enough to do this?

The aim of alliance is acquiring a security support that can’t be achieved by sheer military power. The next important factor is membership in groups and organizations. Some prefer not to be part of an alliance, but member of a group. Others, oppositely, adopt an isolationist policy. The game carries on and you are a player. Which one do you choose? Alliance or isolation?

To become international we must consider our public face important. Without that we cannot even make others listen to us, let alone become friends with us. Also, we must be member of a group, so that we can acquire security.

In addition, we must participate actively in global discussions; decisions are being made around the world and if we want to be a member of the international community, we must enter the process of decision-making. The more our active participation, the more its effect on the formation of our policies, thus our future. We must play a role in the global economy. We must have a share of production and global market. We must take a role in resolving international disputes. We must be an appropriate source and act so that they choose us as a role model.

For this, we must take risks, we must encounter different threats and remove them, we must rely on our own strength and even put our welfare at risk if necessary.