The Crisis of the Middle Class ; As a Result of the Foreign Policy Approach of the I. R. of Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Corresponding Author, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

There is a close connection between domestic policy and foreign policy in the contemporary world.
Meanwhile, the expansion and strengthening of the middle class and increasing its role as the driver of the development of societies is influenced by the governments' foreign policy. In this regard, the aim of this research is to explain the consequences of Iran's foreign policy on the position and fate of the middle class. The main question is: What effect has Iran's foreign policy approaches had on the middle class? Have these approaches led to the strengthening or weakening of the middle class? The hypothesis of the research is that "Iran's foreign policy strategy is based on the priority of security issues over economic development, and this has caused neglect of economic goals, and as a result, the position of the middle class in Iran has been weakened." The theoretical framework of the research is a free use of the literature of development-oriented foreign policy. The article deals with this issue with a qualitative approach and using the method of analyzing events. This study is a library-documentary research. The findings of the research indicate that this activist class has lost its social, economic, political and cultural dignity in the last two decades and this situation is the result of foreign policy and its impact on the economic conditions of the country and on the fate of the middle class as the drivers of changes and the dynamics of society

Introduction

The line separating a government's foreign and domestic policies has vanished in the modern era. Foreign policy significantly influences societies' internal growth and reflects national internal policies. Numerous experts think governments' foreign relations and policy can significantly impact a nation's development process. Countries like China, Malaysia, South Korea, Turkey, and several Arab nations have demonstrated through their experiences that a proactive foreign policy may contribute to a nation's prosperity. Development is, therefore, unattainable without considering the caliber of foreign relations.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy has presented the Iranian populace with many opportunities as well as struggles and consequences. An analysis of the events reveals that Iran's foreign policy capabilities and abilities have been overlooked throughout the nation's development process. Put differently, Iran has prioritized geopolitics, security, and political notions over geo-economic and growth capacities in its foreign policy agenda. Thus, the outcomes of the foreign policy apparatus's initiatives have impacted Iran's development process overall and the middle class's status specifically, which is the topic of this study.In this sense, this study aims to clarify how I.R. Iran's foreign policy affects the status and future of the middle class, which is the driver of the nation's changes and advancements. The primary question is: How did the principles that ruled the Islamic Republic's foreign policy impact the principles of middle-class circumstances, and did they make them stronger or weaker? The study hypothesis is that Iran's foreign policy, which prioritizes the notion of security over development, has weakened the position of the middle class in the country by neglecting economic growth and development.

Theoretical Framework

This study's theoretical foundation draws from the literature on development-oriented foreign policy. We plan to examine Iran's foreign policy performance and impact on the (new) middle-class status by utilizing development-oriented foreign policy. In fact, we measured the influence of foreign policy as an independent variable on the dependent variable (middle-class status).
 

Methodology

This article's qualitative research methodology involves gathering data and information from library - documentary sources, classifying it, and then conducting an analysis.

Results & Discussion

The research findings suggest that this activist class has experienced a downturn in its social, economic, political, and cultural prestige over the past two decades. This decline has been the result of foreign policy's impact on the country's economic development and its impact on the middle class, which has traditionally been a catalyst for progress and prosperity in society. Actually, Iran's foreign policy orientation and prevailing security notion have produced outcomes including a lack of initiative in foreign policy, a prioritization for security over growth, international sanctions, and a lack of ties to the global economy. As a result of this state of affairs, the country's economic strength is declining in general, the middle class is eroding, and its societal influence is diminishing in particular.

Conclusions & Suggestions

The discussion's conclusion shows that Iran's foreign policy has not contributed positively to advancing the country's developmental goals and accumulating its wealth. If the current situation persists, we will undoubtedly observe a decline in the factors that impact national security and widening gaps between the ruling class and the middle class. This will lead to the joining of the middle class with the lower-class of society, resulting in violence and extremism. Additionally, there will be an expansion of political instability and an increase in the emigration of elites and experts, who predominantly originate from the middle class. Other effects of this situation will include a decline in middle-class adhesion to the political system and a collapse in the system's social capital. Therefore, foreign policy should focus on economic interests to lay the groundwork for the nation's growth and development. This can be achieved by fostering strong ties with nations that complement Iran's economy, interacting with major economic powers, lowering tensions with other nations, and promoting peaceful coexistence with other nations in the region. Increased prosperity and the growth of the middle class are two advantages of this. Basically, the rise of the middle class is always associated with development. A nation's middle class grows as its economy grows and develops, and a nation with a sizable, well-educated, and skilled middle class is better equipped to overcome obstacles and shortcomings in its developmental trajectory.
The author concludes the piece by making the following policy recommendations to revive the middle class:

National consensus to create a uniform foreign policy plan
De-escalation in foreign policy and establishing a counterbalance with the world's East and West
Institutionalization of geoeconomics in foreign policy
Foreign policy strategy's incorporation of development-oriented rhetoric
Facilitating economic convergence with other countries through extra-regional and regional associations

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Keywords

References

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