The Arab Spring and the position of the balance of power in the "selective activism" policy of Iran and Russia in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

Although the Arab Spring and the resulting developments in the Middle East countries did not bring about a specific change in the political systems of the countries of the region to strengthen democracy, it was the beginning of a large-scale transformation of the foreign policy of Russia and Iran in West Asia and North Africa. In terms of methodology, to understand the foreign policy of Iran and Russia concerning these events and their analysis, in this research, general scientific analysis methods (historical, inductive-comparative methods, event analysis) and some special methods for the direct study of international relations, including the analysis method based on a systemic approach, have been used. Accordingly, it has been found that given the goals and indicators that Iran and Russia have defined for their regional foreign policy, they both followed the policy of “selective activism” based on the principle of balance of power towards the Arab Spring. Therefore, Iran’s reaction to the events in the Arab countries is not based only on Shia identity; the benefits of the international norms accepted by Iran have also influenced the actions of this country. Iran selects how to act in the region based on the norms and roles that it defined for itself and ultimately seeks a balance of power in the region against Saudi Arabia and the United States. In the same way, Russia is also seeking a balance of power against the West and America in the region based on its identity as a great power and considering its interests, and therefore Russia’s activism towards the internal events of the Arab countries is also selective and different, not following a general approach