The United States’ strategic relationship with iran and Turkey: Implications for cold war and post-cold war order

Abstract

The role of first and second image in the making of foreign policy is an important tool in explaining the foreign policy behavior of modern states. But it is perhaps the systemic (international) level of analysis or third image that provides the most pertinent and wide-ranging scope to exemplify middle power and great power relations. Here, an international level of analysis is used to assist in understanding the cases of US relations with Iran and Turkey from the Cold War to the present. During the Cold War, both Iran and Turkey were located in what was referred to as the “Northern Tier,” which extended from Turkey to Pakistan (Ramazani, 1966). Iran and Turkey were key allies in the Baghdad Pact and the Periphery Pact and served to uphold American regional strategic interests. In addition, the economic instrument of this partnership in the form of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) and the Economic Cooperation Organization emphasized the importance of this regional partnership. © 2018 selection and editorial matter, Geoffrey F. Gresh and Tugrul Keskin; individual chapters, the contributors.