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A Case Study of Iran's Soft Power Strategy in Afghanistan

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A Case Study of Iran's Soft Power Strategy in Afghanistan University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School April 2018 Discourse, Affinity and Attraction: A Case Study of Iran's Soft oP wer Strategy in Afghanistan Hiva Feizi University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the International Relations Commons Scholar Commons Citation Feizi, Hiva, "Discourse, Affinity and Attraction: A Case Study of Iran's Soft oP wer Strategy in Afghanistan" (2018). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7150 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Discourse, Affinity and Attraction: A Case Study of Iran's Soft Power Strategy in Afghanistan by Hiva Feizi A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Bernd Reiter, PhD Mohsen Milani, PhD Philip Seib, JD Earl Conteh-Morgan, PhD Date of Approval March 30, 2018 Keywords: Islamic Republic of Iran; Foreign Policy; Strategy; Influence; Copyright © 2018, Hiva Feizi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The journey that the completion of this dissertation marks the end of would not have been possible without the support of my family, professors, mentors, and friends. First, I’d like to acknowledge the invaluable help of the group of exceptional scholars who have assisted me throughout the process that has led up to completion of this dissertation. Without their help, advice, and support, this work would not have been possible. I will be forever indebted to Dr. Bernd Reiter, my dissertation adviser, whose dynamism, vision, sincerity, and motivation have acted an inspiration to me. He has played an invaluable role in my doctoral work and has been my chief motivator through every step of this long process. Without his patient guidance, encouragement, and advice throughout these years, none of this would have been possible. His integrity and passion for what he does and for his students is evident in everything he does, and I have been extremely lucky to have had him as my supervisor. Another individual without whom this work would not have been possible is Dr. Mohsen Milani, former chair of the GIA department. His initial trust and support in me started this journey. I cannot express how much I owe him for his confidence in me and for his help, particularly with respect to Iran, about which his knowledge has been an invaluable resource to my work. It has been an honor to learn from him at every step of the way. Also, from the bottom of my heart, I want to express my immense gratitude to Professor Philip Seib for his unconditional support. He was my first professor at USC and, since that first class and the master’s I earned at USC, he has continued to encourage and support me. Personally, he is the kindest of individuals, and, professionally, his deep knowledge of soft power has been another invaluable resource to my own work, to which his ideas and suggestions have made a substantial contribution. Lastly, I’m grateful to Dr. Conteh-Morgan, an outstanding educator who has been extremely supportive as a member of my dissertation committee. Each of these exceptional mentors has played a unique role in my success. It has been both a privilege and an honor to have had the opportunity to work closely with each. All have motivated and encouraged me at times when I was ready to give up. Now for those outside of my academic life …. By far one of my most important acknowledgments is to my dear parents, Farzin and Azar Feizi, for all the sacrifices that they have made for me throughout my life. Without them, the opportunity to pursue the work culminating in this dissertation would not have been possible. They have been the guiding force in my personal life and academic life, of which this dissertation represents the capstone. The ultimate role models of love and selflessness, you’ve always given me your unwavering support emotionally and financially. Also, I want to acknowledge the contribution of my two older sisters, who, throughout my life, have set examples of hard work, dedication, persistence, and the search for perfection. Lastly, I thank my belated fiancé, Dr. Ali Attarpour. In our too short time together, you enriched my life more than I can express and its impact will always remain immense. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iv Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... v Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Research Question and Hypothesis ..................................................................................... 2 Scope and Limitations of the Case Study ........................................................................... 3 Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................... 4 Chapter One: The Competing Theoretical Frameworks of Power in International Relations ....... 8 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 8 Various Frameworks to International Relations and Power ............................................... 9 The Realist Perspective ......................................................................................... 10 Neo-realist perspective. ............................................................................. 10 The Constructivist Perspective ............................................................................. 12 Variations of constructivism. .................................................................... 15 The Elusive Concept of Power in International Relations ................................................ 17 The Realist Perspective of Power ......................................................................... 18 The Constructivist Perspective of Power .............................................................. 21 Contemporary Definitions of Power ................................................................................. 25 Robert Dahl (1957)—The First Face of Power ..................................................... 27 Peter Bachrach and Morton Baratz (1962, 1970) — The Second Face of Power 28 Steven Lukes (1974, 2005)—The Third Face of Power ....................................... 29 Michael Barnett and Raymond Duvall (2005)—Four Typologies of Power ........ 32 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 35 Chapter Two: Joseph Nye’s Conceptualization of Soft Power ..................................................... 37 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 37 Nye’s Concept of Soft Power ........................................................................................... 38 Nye’s 1990 Conceptualization of Soft Power ....................................................... 39 A Continuum of Power ......................................................................................... 40 Soft Power Behaviors, Currencies, and Policies ............................................................... 42 Clarifying the Continuum of Power ...................................................................... 43 Resources and Currencies of Soft Power .............................................................. 44 Values. ...................................................................................................... 48 i Culture. ...................................................................................................... 48 Policies. ..................................................................................................... 49 Institutions. ............................................................................................... 49 Behaviors Associated with Soft Power ............................................................................. 49 Attraction as Influence and Persuasion ................................................................. 51 Soft Power in the Context of the Three Faces of Power ....................................... 52 Critiques of Joseph Nye’s Concept of Soft Power ............................................................ 54 The Analytical and Theoretical Limitations of Nye’s Conception of Soft Power 54 Attempts to Offer a Theoretical Framework for Soft Power ................................ 55 Soft Power and Attraction ................................................................................................. 55 Attraction as Natural or Constructed .................................................................... 57 Policy and Practical Limitations ....................................................................................... 60 Relevancy and Application Limitations
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