Iran Political Constellation Through West's Pressure1

7/29/2019 Iran Political Constellation Through West's Pressure1

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Iran Political Constellation through Wests Pressure

Jelang Ramadhan,Parahyangan University, Bandung

A. INTRODUCTIONThe core of this paper is to know what lies beneath the reality and deeper

analysis about the case of nuclear proliferation which is including confrontation

between Western countries versus Iran as their opposite. This case is all about

survival of state or in other word is security which is the vital interest for every each

country in the world. But sometimes, to reach the need, state often facing problematic

choice, they trapped in which one is first to reach the need, economic or politic?

As the daylight, international politics today is heater than before because of nuclear

proliferation matters by some countries those are worrisome for UN Security Council as

stubborn countries. As example, Iran and North Korea are international society focused

about. Iran stood firm about their nuclear plans but International Atomic and Energy

Agency (IAEA) reported that Irans uranium enrichment has been stepped on higher level

which is potentially transforms to nuclear weapons.

United States of America as global police tried to approaching Iran through

diplomacy although this method refused by Israel and he suggested US to launch military

operation towards Iran as soon as possible so they can stop Iranians nuclear program.

Whatever the option, in the name of peace, they have to avoid nuclear war, so well-

planned act have to be realize.

How can Iran still exist under great powers pressed? What kind of respond from West

to overcome Iranians nuclear program? This paper will analyze the important factors


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those are caused dilemma among Western countries and their own interests and Iran

movement towards Western countries pressure using three levels of analysis: individual,

state and inter-state. First, we will explain you the theory that based this paper created.

B. THEORITICAL FRAMEWORKThe theory which will use to explaining Iran foreign politics is Neo-Realism. Neo-

realism is classical realism theory by Hans J. Morgenthau which is renewed by Kenneth

N. Waltz to completing the lack of realism theory in explaining world politics reality

nowadays. Waltz used to international theory approach which is more scientific, for him

the best International Relations theory is neo-realists system theory which is focus to

system structure, unit interaction, sustainable and system change.1

According to neo-

realism, state is unitary actor and also as leviathan and the director of the great ark of a

nation that we called state. Waltz said that anarchy means that any state could be attacked

at any time, therefore security (the survival of the state) is always at risk of another states

(villain/rival state) so self-help is the best way to feel secure.

Neo-realists are seen a power from different perspective, security is vital interest for a

nation and a state can cooperatively along with another states to create a joint security.

This thing is usually create a paranoid condition where another countries those are

outsider (out of the bond) pushed to increase the power to balancing another countries

power so resulted security dilemma2

and it comes with a risky condition when crucial war

can be happen anytime and the final consequence is collective destruction.

1Robert Jackson and Georg Sorensen, Introduction to International Relations (New York: Oxford University

Press, 2009), p. 110-115.2

Security dilemma is a condition where a state build up the defensive power that also enhance offensive

power, but rival state can misunderstand the defense for offensive threats so rival states respond by building

up their own defensive power, so the state feel afraid of each other or in other words threatened by other

states, in the end can escalate to war


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The indicators for both actors those engaged in this case are political and survival

which are vital and it have to be keep safe and sound for every nation generally. For some

countries, economic indicator becomes highly important for their own national interest

because the situation if compromised could bring significant consequence in the future.3

In the next chapter we will analyze the case comprehensively and easy for you to

understand.

C. ANALYSISIranian has been lived in Middle East since seven or 10.000 years ago. Israeli has

took over the land for 60 years that supported by West. Israeli does not have historical

root, Ahmadinejd said4

as I quote from his speech in Kompas Online (25/9/2012) at UN

General Assembly, New York, September 24, 2012. Even under pressuring by many

countries, Iran still stand up for their right, right to fulfilling their own national interest

such as the need of energy. Iranian president, Ahmadinejd said many times about they

will not stop about their nuclear program, because the program is for peace, no less. What

Ahmadinejd talked about is his own nation survival, Iranian believed that with their own

strength, they can and they will survive.

In the other side, US ally, Israel felt the threat from Iran is threatening Israelis

existence. For Israel, Iran is villain and they have to slaughter him. Iranians threat make

a possibility where Israeli could be attacked at anytime because of the hatred of their

existence in Middle East. Nothing but building up the defensive power and depends on

allies support to make sure they will survive on their claimed land in Middle East.

3Robert J. Art,A Grand Strategy for America (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2003), p. 45-55.

4Ervan Hardoko, Lagi, Ahmadinejad Ancam Hancurkan Israel, Kompas Online, 25 September 2012.


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The thing is worrisome for US, they were added sanction for Iran, but still nothing

changed, the economic sanction does not enough to stop Iran. US committed to help

Israel from the very beginning but the condition right now is difficult for US to decide.

During global monetary crisis, military operation is a difficult option because of

expensive and there is no support from congress even some states of NATO (North

Atlantic Treaty Organization) will support for the operation, but still not guarantee

anything. American president, Obama said that American will try to prevent Iranian

growing their nuclear weapon5

and to allies have to be more patience because US still try

with diplomacy to solve the problem.

Middle East is always been a zone where political and economic interest across each

other. West need the oil, but their political ideology will resist, nevertheless national

interest need to be fulfill. As you know, Irans oil stock is second biggest in the world

with highly strategic location where oil export flow from Middle East via Iranian waters

(Persian Gulf) so it placed Irans bargain position higher than before in world politics

constellation under Western Hemisphere influence. Because of many states still depended

on Irans oil supply to push the economics sector during European crisis.

United Nations as organization that embraced whole states in the world try to

accommodates the problem, but still the institution is only become an arena for actors to

steal and to race in spreading influence. As witnessed, UN policy for nuclear proliferation

does not consumed by all states, some countries still stubborn about owning the nuclear,

another examples are Pakistan and India but they seems not bring any harm to West.

5Laksono Hari W., Pidato Obama Singgung Reaksi terhadap Film Anti-Islam, Kompas Online, 25 September

2012.


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D. CONCLUSIONThe neo-realists theory is right about this problem. States are only believes with their

own self. They created a joint security for they own security, but still some states wants to

act by themselves such as Israel which wants to launch a military operation on Iran even

no one will helps, they will decide their own future. Iran doing the same way, despite he

had supports from China and Russia, he will protect the land and the nation although he

have to act first by himself.

Iranians nuclear weapon is just like an issue to escalate a war among the countries. If

we take the other example such as Pakistan and India, why are they not become a

problem for Western countries? Why only Iran and North Korea? Political and economic

interest dilemma trapped the actors between two difficult choices. Irans threat is enough

to shakes Israel, the credibility of IAEA report is still in doubt for many countries, even

US allies doubting it. Israel needs US and allies to support his plan to slaughter Iran as

his villain state in international politics. Global economics is still in crisis and even worse

if there is no solution for political conflict among states.

The core of the solution is from the will of states to overcome the problem itself.

Some states do not have the will to end and get the resolution. It is far easier if Israel is

more calm facing Iran threat, they have to talk each other. US should be a bridge for

both rival states. Great power supports to Israel will solve nothing but make the hatred

even worse than before. Peace needs the openness and the openness among all actors

needs a power, a power to be brave to solve the problem together.

Words count: 1376 words


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Art, RJ 2003,A Grand Strategy for America, Cornell University Press, Ithaca.

Hardoko, Ervan 2012, Lagi, Ahmadinejad Ancam Hancurkan Israel, Kompas Online, 25

September, viewed 25 September 2012,

.

Jackson, R & Sorensen, G 2009,Introduction to International Relations, Oxford University

Press, New York.

Katzman, Kenneth 2010,Iran Sanctions, Congressional Research Service, retrieved 13 April

2012,

.

Kistyarini 2012, Ahmadinejad Diperingatkan soal Pidato Keras, Kompas Online, 24


.

2012, Iran Tuding Barat Manfaatkan Dewan Keamanan, Kompas Online, 25


.

2012, Perang Dunia III Pecah jika Israel Serang Iran, Kompas Online, 24


.

Palmer, G & Morgan, T 2006,A Theory of Foreign Policy, Princeton University Press,

Princeton.

W., Laksono 2012, Pidato Obama Singgung Reaksi terhadap Film Anti-Islam, Kompas

Online, 25 September, viewed 25 September 2012,

.

Waltz, KN 1979, Theory of International Politics, McGraw-Hill, Sydney.

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Iran Political Constellation Through West's Pressure1