The Eleventh Government and the Structure of the International System from the Perspective of Discourse Analysis
Keywords:
Discourse analysis, structure of the international system, moderation discourse, foreign policy, Eleventh GovernmentAbstract
The transformations of past centuries and the dominance of various forms of international order over the global community indicate that the structure of the international system is constantly subject to change and evolution. Each type of international system can create specific opportunities, threats, or behavioral patterns for the foreign policies of states, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Therefore, the structure of the international system is one of the most significant factors influencing foreign policy, and an accurate understanding of the current and future structure of the international system can play a crucial role in policymaking and achieving foreign policy objectives. This article seeks to employ the discourse analysis theory of Laclau and Mouffe to identify the semantic system, existing signifiers, and articulated elements regarding the structure of the international system in the foreign policy discourse of the Eleventh Government (2013–2017). This discourse, named "Moderation," presented a distinct semantic system compared to the previous administrations (the Ninth and Tenth Governments). Identifying the semantic system and analyzing discourses is a practical and important issue in foreign policy because each discourse contains specific principles and rules, reflecting the signifiers and signifieds that determine the country’s national interests, values, and objectives, thereby indicating the overall orientation of foreign policy.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Asghar Ebrahimzadeh (Author); Mehdi Motaharnia (Corresponding author); Reza Parizad (Author)
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