First International Conference on European and American Studies
Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran
June 9-10, 2025
Europe’s Position in Iran’s Foreign Relations in the Post-Polar Order Era
Abstract
The dynamics of the global order interact with bilateral and multilateral international relations, consequently influencing countries’ foreign policies. Just as during the bipolar order, states aligned their fundamental positions with the prevailing international dynamics, the post-polar era, with its distinct characteristics, primarily shapes the framework of foreign policy-making: the role of non-state actors, shifts in the elements and geography of power, media and new communication systems, and the overall shift of influence away from the exclusive domain of states in decision-making processes. In the post-polar era, Europe—both as the green continent and in the broader sense of the European Union and its associated alliances—no longer holds its former prominence. In the absence of Europe’s decisive role in military, economic, technological, and energy equations, perhaps its only remaining distinction is its normative power, which is still significantly influenced by an outdated Eurocentric perspective. Considering these factors, alongside the core dynamics governing Iran’s foreign policy and the geopolitical proximity between Iran and Europe, examining the relationship between Iran and Europe in the post-polar global order is meaningful. Avoiding both the exaggeration of Europe’s past role and the dismissal of its relevance, as well as steering clear of vague generalizations, are three challenges that research like this paper must carefully navigate. The extent to which Europeans’ self-perception, their views of the United States, others, and the current global order are up-to-date and aligned with concrete realities deserves study. However, the central focus of this research—reassessing the approach to Europe, policymaking regarding the continent, and engagement with it within the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy apparatus—is both challenging and valuable. It is expected that readers of this study will arrive at their own conclusions regarding these issues.
Keywords: European Union, Europe, Iran’s foreign policy, norm-setting, global order, post-polar.
