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    • List of Articles Convergence

      • Open Access Article

        1 - Developmental Changes of Selected Countries in Iran's 20-Year Perspective Plan Region and Regional Economic Convergence
        Mirabdollah Hosseini بهرام امیراحمدیان
        Iran’s 20-Year Vision, a major document and roadmap for the long-term overall development of the country, was adopted a few years ago. The Vision contains, among others, comparisons with the performance of a select group of countries in the region. As discussed in the p More
        Iran’s 20-Year Vision, a major document and roadmap for the long-term overall development of the country, was adopted a few years ago. The Vision contains, among others, comparisons with the performance of a select group of countries in the region. As discussed in the present paper, a number of regional countries have achieved in recent years rapid developmental changes in various fields of infrastructure, real economy, environment, and foreign economic relations, especially with regard to foreign investment attraction. These developments have faced most regional countries, especially Iran, with challenges and opportunities. The authors argue in the paper that if Iran fails to make due progress in these fields, it will not only fail to achieve the objectives of the 20-Year Vision, but it will also risk widening of the historical developmental gap which exists between regional and international players. The present paper aims to expound developmental changes in a select group of countries in the region and also compare Iran’s performance with those countries in terms of opportunities, threats and challenges. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        2 - Territory of Greater Iran, Good Ground for Regional Arrangement
        علی زینی وند
        The preset paper discusses major components of a new regional arrangement within the cultural territory of greater Iran. It represents an effort to explore both elements of convergence that make up a regional arrangement, and the elements of divergence that disturb it. More
        The preset paper discusses major components of a new regional arrangement within the cultural territory of greater Iran. It represents an effort to explore both elements of convergence that make up a regional arrangement, and the elements of divergence that disturb it. Three common factors that have been identified and assessed include: a. territorial unity, b. common history and destiny, and c. common culture and cultural factors. It seems that if players in this region cooperated, unifying variables in the territory of greater Iran would be able to turn it into a prosperous and powerful region in all fields. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        3 - Revisiting SCO According to 3rd Generation of Regionalism Theories
        محسن  خلیلی معصومه  زارعی‌هدک
        Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional organization established to build confidence among member states; fight terrorism, religious extremism and separatism; and to counteract the United States unilateralism in international system. China, Russia, and Cen More
        Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional organization established to build confidence among member states; fight terrorism, religious extremism and separatism; and to counteract the United States unilateralism in international system. China, Russia, and Central Asian countries (except Turkmenistan) are its members with Iran, India, Pakistan and Mongolia being observers. Shanghai Cooperation Organization is part of convergence process in Asia, but it was established under conditions different from regionalism in Asia. Regionalism in Asia can be explained within three generations of theories, including hegemonic regionalism, independent regionalism, and modern regionalism. This paper redefines SCO according to third-generation theories of regionalism. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        4 - The Role of Regional Organizations in Reducing Regional Challenges; The Case of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
        hojat mahkooee hassan bavir
        After World War II, particularly since 1960s, international cooperation gained prominence within the framework of regional organizations by elevating regional cooperation. Expansion of cooperation through regional organizations are deemed as an approach to exit from int More
        After World War II, particularly since 1960s, international cooperation gained prominence within the framework of regional organizations by elevating regional cooperation. Expansion of cooperation through regional organizations are deemed as an approach to exit from international crisis, and to multiply power in facing new issues of today’s world. Regionalisation leads to development of economic cooperation, political and security harmonisation. It can reinforce regional peace and security by providing peaceful solutions for existing regional conflicts or potential ones. The Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) replaced the Regional Development Cooperation Organisation with aims of improving conditions for sustainable developments of members, expansion of regional and international trade, facilitating gradual integration with global economy, increased integration amongst public sector of member states and expanding tourism. This article highlights ECO’s role in reducing regional challenges and further integration between member states Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        5 - Feasibility of Economic Convergence in the Persian Gulf and Realizing Requirements
        Hemmat  Imani
        Achieving economic integration, security and sustainable development in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf has suggested as a considerable topic for many international relations' researchers. Reviewing the research literature, it can conclude that the researchers did More
        Achieving economic integration, security and sustainable development in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf has suggested as a considerable topic for many international relations' researchers. Reviewing the research literature, it can conclude that the researchers did not provide the same solutions on how to achieve regional convergence in the Persian Gulf. Instead, a variety of analysis, hypotheses and suggestions made in this regard. The study aims on the feasibility of economic integration in the Persian Gulf region (including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain) and the requirements for achieving it. Economic convergence considered as a process that aims to achieve peace, security and sustainable development in the region. Accordingly, the research question would be “How the Gulf States could achieve economic integration in order to achieve peace, security and sustainable development”. In order to achieve peace, security and sustainable development, the research hypothesis the Persian Gulf States should rely on a combination of various economic, political, security, and religious-cultural capacities. Then, overcoming internal, regional and visionary divergent factors must take into account the behavioral requirements of achieving economic and political-security cooperation (in the short and medium term) and economic convergence (in the long-term) in major national decisions as well as their foreign policy approaches. The research methodology, as needed, was a combination of qualitative method based on library documents and quantitative and statistical methods. The findings provide a comprehensive network model for achieving peace, security and sustainable development through economic integration in the Persian Gulf. While rejecting strategic hierarchy model in prioritizing the indicators, the simultaneous and interconnected use of different economic, political, security and religious-cultural components in achieving economic and political-security cooperation in the short and medium-term and economic convergence is proposed for long-term. Manuscript profile