Non-State Actors in International Relations

Presenting a series of cases of NSAs across the continuum of international relations, the chapters firmly ground NSAs in the ontology of international relations theory. 

Filling a gap in the current literature, this book will be of interest to students and researchers of international relations theory, international politics, international security, diplomatic history, and European and Middle East politics, as well as policy-makers and practitioners.

This edited volume discusses non-state actors as agents of foreign policy. It questions whether non-state actors can act as foreign policy makers and if the contemporary role of non-state actors constitutes a theoretical challenge to foreign policy. Chapters demonstrate the impact of non-state entities through the lenses of their direct role as decision-makers, with examples drawn from the African continent, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Arguing for the necessity of approaching foreign policy in a broader frame, beyond the scope of the state and the individual, the book fills a gap in the literature and creates a closer nexus between area studies and foreign policy. This volume will be of interest to both academics and practitioners across the fields of international relations, foreign policy analysis, and area studies.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, although it has become famous for its foreign policy choices and actions on the international scene, it remains an enigma for the West. This book provides an introspective analysis of the foundation of this unique Islamic state, and reveal what makes it resilient, and attempts to sustain it. Taking a multidisciplinary approach using anthropological, philosophical, psychological, and military grids, the book revisits the power of the clergy and maps out its original meaning and its ability to be wielded to serve policies in line with Iran's contemporary political context. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of military strategy, international security, and geostrategy, as well as military officers and policy makers who will benefit from the fresh perspective it adds to the Western view of a country whose strategic and military thinking is still largely unknown or misunderstood.