Investigating the factor of geographical determinism in the relations between Central Asian republics and Iran

Document Type : مقالات علمی -پژوهشی

Authors

mohammad bagher Mokaramipour ¹

mohammadjavad khoubpour ²

leila kiani ³

hamidreza hatami ⁴

¹ PhD student in Political Science/Political Studies of the Islamic Revolution, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

² Phd student of Regional Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

³ Ph.D. student of political geography at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

⁴ Department of Political Science/Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences/Boali Sina University/Hamadan/Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22067/pg.2024.85169.1251

Abstract

The imposed independence of the Central Asian republics turned these countries from administrative units into national governments with international borders. The transformation of the former Soviet Union made it possible for different types of crises between these republics, which were the result of Soviet policies, to come to the fore. While these republics share many common characteristics, including shared history, economies dependent on agriculture and water, and common security threats, they have common challenges in confronting each other. Geographical agency and geographical determinism have affected all other components between these republics, in such a way that security has become the main priority of these countries. Geographical determinism has had an impact on the economy, environment, politics and all aspects of these societies. In such a way that a view based on caution and pessimism has ruled between them. The effect of geographical determinism, especially being confined to land, has placed the relations of these republics with Iran in a special situation, which is an opportunity for both sides. This research, with a descriptive-analytical approach, seeks to answer the question, what effect does geographical determinism have on the relations between these republics, and what is the position of Iran in this situation? The hypothesis under investigation is that geographical deterrence still makes security the main priority of these countries, and Iran has the ability to get these countries out of geographical deterrence due to its capacities.

Keywords

Geographical determinism

security

intermediary export

economy

Central Asia

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