Evaluation of the Role of Think Tanks in the Foreign Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Their Level of Influence

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• پوررمضان pourramezan ¹
• Ariabarzan mohammadighalehtaki ²

¹ موسسه مطالعات خاورمیانه

² استادیار مطالعات منطقه ای ، دانشکده حقوق و علوم سیاسی، تهران، ایران

https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2025.90341.1580

Abstract

In today's complex world, the foreign policy of countries is significantly influenced by analyses, consultations, and proposals provided by various institutions. Think tanks, as entities focused on research and analysis of political and social issues, particularly in the Islamic Republic of Iran, investigate various subjects including foreign policy. Given these considerations, the main research question can be framed as: What role do think tanks play in shaping foreign policy in the Islamic Republic of Iran?The aim of this research is to evaluate the role and impact of think tanks on the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Considering the rapid developments and complexities of international relations, this study seeks to analyze the challenges and opportunities faced by think tanks and their capacity to influence the formulation of foreign policy decisions in the country. This research aims to test the hypothesis that structural, financial, and political issues may create limitations on the influence of think tanks.It is noteworthy that the research method employed in this paper is qualitative and inductive, moving from observations to reasoning. The tools for data collection include library and documentary studies, as well as structured and semi-structured interviews with academic, think-tank, and political elites.In conclusion, by analyzing the data, it has been found that think tanks in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as advisory and analytical entities, have not significantly impacted the decision-making processes of foreign policy. Challenges such as a lack of financial independence, restrictive regulations, insufficient interaction with governmental bodies, and increasing scientific weaknesses can lead to a reduction inth eir effectiveness

Keywords

• think tank
• foreign policy
• Islamic Republic of Iran
• neoclassical realism
• influence

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