The Process of Politicization of Shiism and Impact of Islam on Iranian Foreign Policy in the Context of the Iranian Constitution

Abstract

It is crucial to take religion into account while analyzing Iran's foreign policy because it is a major player in the Middle East. In the 16th century, the Shiite ulema in Iran, which officially adopted the Shiite sect of Islam, gradually increased its power and took steps towards politicisation. Particularly the Shiite-inspired Islamic Revolution in Iran has raised concerns about the role of religion in Iranian foreign policy. However, analyzing Iranian foreign policy simply in terms of religious philosophy is not conceivable. Iran emphasizes in its discourses on foreign policy that it acts from a comprehensive idealist perspective, such as the protection and defense of all Muslim rights worldwide, but this perspective does not prevent Iran from actively pursuing the use of real political instruments in its foreign policy. Based on these concepts, the paper examines the historical process of Shiism becoming politicized and attempts to analyze the influence of Islam on Iranian foreign policy in light of Iranian constitutional law. This effort aims to disprove the notion that the Iranian constitution is a theocratic document; rather, it reveals the presence of a positive law-based concept that does not rule out the use of a legitimate foreign policy, though having idealistic tendencies.