Analysis of Azerbaijan-Iran relations from a realpolitik perspective

In the international relations system, states resort to various methods and tools to protect their national interests. One of the most effective of these methods and tools is realpolitik. As an essential foreign policy tactic for a state to achieve its goals, realpolitik is not based on ideological or moral considerations but primarily on practical concerns. Although the term was first used in 19th-century Germany, its roots date back to ancient times, and it continues to be actively used in foreign policy today. In other words, realpolitik is a pragmatic approach that excludes moral and ideological concerns in international relations, basing a state's foreign policy solely on concrete national interests, power, and security dynamics. Decisions are made based on the regional balance of power and perceived threats, independent of cultural or religious dimensions. The Azerbaijan-Iran relations examined in this thesis constitute a striking example of the contradiction created by realpolitik, despite both states having Shiite majorities and sharing a deep-rooted cultural history. The study focuses on the impact of the close alliance system that Azerbaijan has established with Turkey and Israel on Iran's regional security concerns. The thesis examines the Zangezur Corridor project, which came to the fore following the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and the changing regional status quo after the Second Karabakh War. It analyzes the process by which diplomatic tensions—heightened by Iran's geopolitical concerns regarding its northern border—shifted into a new dimension based on rational interests. In other words, the primary objective of this thesis is to define realpolitik and to highlight its significance as a crucial foreign policy tactic in the global political arena. Furthermore, the study analyzes how the interstate tension between Azerbaijan and Iran was de-escalated through realpolitik, and examines the respective realpolitik approaches of Azerbaijan toward Iran and Iran toward Azerbaijan.