International Relations

This article starts with the title definitions of “balance of power” and the “Middle East”. It explores these definitions in a critical way. Then the brief history of the Middle East is explored in a chronological fashion. After that, the brief history of the turbulent US-Iranian bilateral relations are analyzed in detail. The next section is about the so called the “nuclear debate” between Iran and the West. Turkey’s policy visavis Iran is also discussed in the light of Turkey’s recent foreign policy. The last section is about the details of Iran’s military capabilities and equipment. The paper ends with a brief conclusion.

Today, Iran is at the headlines of world media, is the centre of world's attention, is one of the big problematique of the chancelleries of the West and her nuclear programme is hotly debated all over the world and in the Middle East.
                Iran's bold defiance of the world's only superpower(albeit in slow decline1), its open challenge against Israel ( which the Arab states were unable to cope with since its inception in 1948), its advocating of “Muslim causes” all around the world, its full blown support to anti-Israel forces of non-state actors like HAMAS and Hezbollah and its ongoing uranium enrichment programme coupled with Iranian missile programme of 2500-3000 km range Shahabs cause awe and apprehension all over the world but particularly in the West.
                Iran is a big, complex country with historical and geopolitical “strategic depth”2 She is an heir to ancient and mighty Persian Empire.3 It has a rich culture, literature and remarkably well-read and educated population. Iran is a predominantly Shiite country which makes her somewhat a stranger in the Muslim world which is predominantly Sunni. At the same time Iran is craving for a place under the sun and wants to be recognized as an 'equal' with the United States and the West. It is the only country where the state is ruled by the  Shiite theocracy and by the Shiite clergy (“the mullahs”) and all the key strategic decisions are made by the Supreme Leader.4
            However, it is also grappling with economic problems( high unemployment, high inflation and lack of foreign direct investments) and Western economic embargoes sanctioned by the United Nations.Its nuclear programme might be considered an element of prestige and the endorsment of “rightful place under the sun” as well as a realist reading of Iran's trying to counterbalance the threats of nuclear Israel and the nuclear USA.Iran is under close scrutiny of International Atomic Energy Agency and Western intelligence agencies.

This paper consists of several parts. In the first part, the historical development of nuclear science will be elaborated. This is important because it is key to understanding the development of nuclear weaponry and its civilian applications. Also, in this section the ‘secret’  US Manhattan Project and its “fruit” Hiroshima and Nagazaki bombings will be dealt. Then the civilian application of nuclear energy will be discussed. The second part will begin by the comprehensive definition of the concept of NGOs and then will move on to discussing the environmentalists NGO’s, their reasons of opposition to nuclear industry and weaponry, especially the Greenpeace. Also, the underlying reasons behind the states’ insistence on nuclear industry will be illuminated. The third part will deal with the Turkish case of nuclear embroglio. I will also try to enlighten the Turkish nuclear debate going on between the Turkish state and the Turkish environmentalists. The final part will be consist of summarizing the findings of the paper.

Today, Iran is at the headlines of world media, is the centre of world's attention, is one of the big problematique of the chancelleries of the West and her nuclear programme is hotly debated all over the world and in the Middle East.
Iran's bold defiance of the world's only superpower(albeit in slow decline1), its open challenge against Israel ( which the Arab states were unable to cope with since its inception in 1948), its advocating of “Muslim causes” all around the world, its full blown support to anti-Israel forces of non-state actors like HAMAS and Hezbollah and its ongoing uranium enrichment programme coupled with Iranian missile programme of 2500-3000 km range Shahabs cause awe and apprehension all over the world but particularly in the West.
Iran is a big, complex country with historical and geopolitical “strategic depth”2 She is an heir to ancient and mighty Persian Empire.3 It has a rich culture, literature and remarkably well-read and educated population. Iran is a predominantly Shiite country which makes her somewhat a stranger in the Muslim world which is predominantly Sunni. At the same time Iran is craving for a place under the sun and wants to be recognized as an 'equal' with the United States and the West. It is the only country where the state is ruled by the Shiite theocracy and by the Shiite clergy (“the mullahs”) and all the key strategic decisions are made by the Supreme Leader.4
However, it is also grappling with economic problems( high unemployment, high inflation and lack of foreign direct investments) and Western economic embargoes sanctioned by the United Nations.Its nuclear programme might be considered an element of prestige and the endorsment of “rightful place under the sun” as well as a realist reading of Iran's trying to counterbalance the threats of nuclear Israel and the nuclear USA.Iran is under close scrutiny of International Atomic Energy Agency and Western intelligence agencies.

The nuclear weapons are a source of concern for the peace and welfare of humanity. Their terrible effects on people, nature and human environment were displayed by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagazaki of imperial Japan by the U.S. However, since then the nuclear daemon is out of the bottle and nuclear proliferation continues despite the international efforts and initiatives of non-proliferation.
This paper consists of five parts: The first part will deal with the theoretical debates concerning nuclear armament according to different approaches to International Relations. The second part will focus on the historical development of Israeli nuclear programme and its doctrine. The third part will deal with the Arab-Israeli disputes’ nuclear dimension. The fourth part will try to illuminate the recent Iranian efforts at nuclearization and its consequences for the Israeli nuclear posture. The fifth part will summarize the findings of the paper with a brief conclusion.