Revolutionizing Revisionism: The Proliferation of Iran’s Militant Clients in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen
Seamon, Caleb K.
2022
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This thesis analyzes the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran through the prism of its notorious militant clients: foreign armed groups under the management of Iran which use battlefield gains to advance the regime’s regional interests. Iranian foreign policy underwent a shift since the end of the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1989) when over 500,000 Iranians died. The trauma of this experience ... read moreencouraged regime decision makers to instead prefer to cultivate sympathetic foreign allies to advance Iranian interests. These groups activated during wartime across the Middle East in the past three decades and have effectively advanced Iranian state interests in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Iran’s militant clients now serve as the tactical nuts and bolts of the regime’s long-term regional strategy. To explore how this unique foreign policy strategy came to be, the following chapters explore the sources of Iranian power, Iran’s regional aspirations, and the regime’s chosen strategy to advance them. Militant clients are demonstrated to be a key pillar of Iran’s grand strategy. In the end, this thesis uncovers the strategic strengths and weaknesses of Iran’s militant clients and concludes with revised assumptions about them to better inform U.S. policy.
Thesis (B.A.)--Tufts University, 2022.
Submitted to the International Relations Program.
Advisor: Malik Mufti.
Committee: Malik Mufti and Richard Eichenberg.read less - ID:
- j098zs09n
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