This paper will try to answer why Iran is attempting to dominate the Iraqi political, military, and economic sphere in spite of international sanctions and isolation. The majority of scholars on...Show moreThis paper will try to answer why Iran is attempting to dominate the Iraqi political, military, and economic sphere in spite of international sanctions and isolation. The majority of scholars on the subject use defensive realist reasoning as their primary explanation for Iran’s behavior in the region. But this paper will prove that the real answer is much more complicated than that, and that the defensive camp is oversimplifying Iranian actions in Iraq. We need to take historical, cultural and religious aspects into the equation as well in order to produce a more holistic explanation for Iran’s behavior vis-à-vis Iraq. Once we do so, we will arrive at a conclusion that will shatter the perceived innocence of the consensus of the scholarly majority. Namely, Iran is not acting defensively. Instead, it is acting in line with constructivist theory, as it wants to export its revolutionary ideology abroad through the support of pro-Iran actors in the region. This means, as we will argue, that Iran is still ideologically committed to the spread of revolutionary Islam in the region, with the ultimate goal being the unification of the Muslim world. As we will prove later, this unification can and must be achieved by forming a pan-Islamic alliance to annihilate Israel under the guardianship of the Iranian Supreme Leader, as Khomeinist thinking goes. This will then supposedly lead to a strong, powerful, and independent Muslim world, free of Western influence.Show less
In the complex landscape of Latin American politics, the interactions and relationships between non-state actors and the authorities, and the influence these have on the creation and implementation...Show moreIn the complex landscape of Latin American politics, the interactions and relationships between non-state actors and the authorities, and the influence these have on the creation and implementation of policies relating to public security remains a topic which could benefit from further academic exploration. This research aims to provide insight into the complexity through examining the evolution of non-state actors, their roles and the influence this had had on public security strategies during the presidencies of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.Show less
