Journal of Political Strategy

The effect of the accessionism of the GCC countries on relations with Iran

Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Summer 2017
Pages 159-182
Journal of Political Strategy

Document Type : Original Independent Original Article

Authors

masoud motallebi 1
seyed mohammadreza mousavi 2
edris salari 3

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Azadshahr Branch, Azadshahr, Iran

2 PhD Student in Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

3 PhD Student in Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan, Iran

Abstract
One of the important theories in the field of international relations is neorealism, which, considering the material structure of the international system, analyzes the behavior of countries in the international system and considers the balance of power as the main factor in this analysis. But among neorealists, Stephen Walt points to a point that contrasts with the balance of power. For the first time in the collection of neorealist thinkers, Walt introduces immaterial factors in the analysis of behavior in the form of threats. According to him, the increase of power should be manifested in the form of threat and mere increase of power does not mean threat, but the mental perception of the threat is important and analyzes the behavior of a country if it is considered a threat in the form of annexationist strategy. Contrary to the balance of power and the unity of different countries, in order to avoid the threat, in this approach, the target country turns to annexation or relying on a superior power. In this study, we examine the accession of the Persian Gulf countries (Cooperation Council) to the United States as a supra-regional power over the perception of Iran as a threat and the impact of this strategy on bilateral relations.

Keywords

Accessionism
Threat
Balance of Power
Neorealism
GCC

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