Analysis of America's Role in the Arms Race of West Asian Countries (2000 to 2020)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Corresponding author: Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD student in political science, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

The process of arms competition among the countries of the West Asian region has intensified in the last two decades to the extent that most of the economic incomes of the countries of this region have been spent on defense costs and weapons purchases; But in this competition, America has played a more prominent and important role than other world powers in this region. An important question that is raised in connection with this process is, what was the reason for the prominent role of America in increasing the arms race of West Asian countries? The results show that the United States, as a leading and hegemonic power, has defined the arms trade in West Asia in terms of domestic, regional and global goals, and the causes of the prominent role of the United States can be domestically due to the prosperity of the economy and the arms industry. At the regional level, as a result of the increasing deterrence power of the United States of West Asia against Iran, it includes justifying its presence in West Asia to gain regional hegemony, forming its desired order to dominate the region and fight against terrorism, and at the international level, maintaining and promoting his hegemony in competition with great powers. The theoretical framework of this article is designed based on the theory of neo-realism and the concepts of defense economy. And by using the library method, he collected the data and analyzed them with a descriptive-analytical approach.

Keywords

References

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American Strategic Studies
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Serial Number 7
February 2023
Pages 11-47

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 June 2022
  • Revise Date: 29 August 2022
  • Accept Date: 03 September 2022

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