A Critical Appraisal Review of Iran’s “National Independent Policy”: Content Analysis of the Harvard Oral History Project (1961–1979)

Document Type : Iran's foreign policy

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Iranian Affairs, Department of Political Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD student, Political Sociology, Department of Political Science, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The articulation of a coherent foreign policy strategy in an increasingly complex and multipolar international order constitutes one of the most essential determinants of safeguarding and enhancing national interests. Within this broader framework, strategy in foreign policy not only functions as the organizing principle of a state’s patterns of interaction with other actors, but also assumes a pivotal role in maximizing opportunities while simultaneously managing threats that bear upon national security and development. This article undertakes a critical examination of the collapse of the most consequential foreign policy strategy of the Pahlavi monarchy, namely the National Independent Policy. Anchored in the theoretical framework of perspectivism, the study seeks to answer a fundamental question: How did Iranian officials’ perceptions of the international system (1961–1979) lead to the ineffectiveness of “national independent policy”? The findings reveal that the persistence of asymmetrical relations between Iran and the great powers, coupled with their pervasive dominance over the country, compounded by a deeply rooted historical mistrust of external powers and the pervasive sense of inferiority felt among Iranian foreign policy elites, engendered profound skepticism among key decision-makers regarding the feasibility of this strategy in a world order structured by unequal power relations. Methodologically, the research proceeded in two stages. In the first stage, employing a directed content analysis, the Harvard Oral History Project was revisited through a thematic reading of the lived experiences of Iranian foreign policy officials. The critical reflections of these officials were selected, coded, and categorized, thereby revealing the most salient thematic constructs shaping their perceptions. In the second stage, drawing upon the method of process tracing, the study delineates the causal dynamics that led to the ultimate failure of the National Independent Policy.

Keywords

References

Abrahamian, E., Katouzian, H., Ashraf, A. (1382). Essays on the conspiracy theory in Iran (Ed. & Trans. M. E. Fattahi). Tehran: Ney. [In Persian]
Afshar-Qasemlu, A.-K. (1985). Interview with Amir-Khosrow Afshar-Qasemlu. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 2. [In Persian]
Alikhani, A.-N. (1984). Interview with Ali-Naqi Alikhani. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University. [In Persian]
Ali-Sufi, A. (1389). The role of balance policy and the Third Force in Iran’s history. 1st ed. Tehran: Payam-e Noor. [In Persian]
Atcha, H. (2022). Process Tracing for the Institutional Researcher. The AIR Professional File, Spring 2022.
Azar, M. (1983). Interview with Mehdi Azar. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 1. [In Persian]
Azghandi, A. (1388). Iran’s foreign relations, 1320–1357. 9th ed. Tehran: Qumes. [In Persian]
Baheri, M. (1982). Interview with Mohammad Baheri. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 6. [In Persian]
Bakhtiar, S. (1986). Interview with Shapour Bakhtiar. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 7. [In Persian]
Bani Ahmad, A. (1984). Interview with Ahmad Bani Ahmad. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 7. [In Persian]
Baqa’i Kermani, M. (1986). Interview with Mozaffar Baqa’i Kermani. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 5. [In Persian]
Beach, D., & Pedersen, B. (2013). Process-tracing methods: Foundations and guidelines. The University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor.
Behestani, M. (2017). The intertwinement of U.S.–Iran foreign relations in the last two decades of the Pahlavi monarchy: A case study of the Twin Pillars policy. State Studies of Contemporary Iran, 1(1). [In Persian]
Berman, Sheri (1998), The Social Democratic Moment: Ideas and Politics in the Making of Interwar Europe, Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Bill, J. A. (1371). The Eagle and the Lion: The tragedy of American–Iranian relations (Trans. M. Gholami). Tehran: Shahr-e Ab. [In Persian]
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Collier, D. (2011). Understanding process tracing. PS: political science & politics, 44(4), 823-830.
Ebtahaj, A. (1981). Interview with Abolhassan Ebtahaj. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 4. [In Persian]
Eqbal, K. (1985). Interview with Khosrow Eqbal. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 2. [In Persian]
Fariour, G.-A. (1984). Interview with Gholam-Ali Fariour. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 13. [In Persian]
Fay, B. (1381). Contemporary philosophy of social science (Trans. K. Dehimi). Tehran: Tarh-e No. [In Persian]
Foran, J. (1377). Fragile Resistance: Social transformations in Iran (Trans. A. Tadian). Tehran: Rasa Cultural Services. [In Persian]
Foroughi, M. (1982). Interview with Mahmoud Foroughi. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 13. [In Persian]
Gasiorowski, M. (1371). U.S. Foreign Policy and the Shah (Trans. F. Fatemi). Tehran: Markaz. [In Persian]
Ghaffari, Z. (1384). Conspiracy theory in Iran’s contemporary political culture. 1st ed. Tehran: Soroush. [In Persian]
Gharib, H. (1985). Interview with Hormoz Gharib. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 13. [In Persian]
Gil Guerrero, J. (1400). The Carter Administration and the Collapse of the Pahlavi Dynasty (Trans. G. Ali Babaei). Tehran: Ketab Parseh. [In Persian]
Hay, C. (1385). An introductory critique to political analysis (Trans. A. Golmohammadi). Tehran: Ney. [In Persian]
Homayoun, D. (1983). Interview with Dariush Homayoun. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 20. [In Persian]
Jahangiri, S., Khaleghi-Nejad, M. (1399). The role of balance policy and the Third Force in Iran’s history (Qajar and Pahlavi). Islamic Azad University Research Journal (Quarterly History), 15(56), 251–275. [In Persian]
Jervis, Robert (2006), “Understanding Belief”, Political Psychology, Vol27, No5.
Keddie, N., Gasiorowski, M. (Eds.). (1386). Neither East nor West: Iran’s relations with the Soviet Union and the United States. Tehran: Mizan. [In Persian]
Kheradjou, A. (1984). Interview with Abolqasem Kheradjou. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 9. [In Persian]
Khosrowani, P. (1983). Interview with Parviz Khosrowani. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 9. [In Persian]
Kia, H. A. (1985). Interview with Haj Ali Kia. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 14. [In Persian]
Kubalkova, Vendulka (1998) International Relations in A Constructed World, New York: M.E Sharpe.
Mahdavi, A.-H. (1389). Iran’s Foreign Policy during the Pahlavi Era, 1300–1357. 8th ed. Tehran: Pikan. [In Persian]
Mahdavi, A.-H. (1393). Iran’s Foreign Policy during the Pahlavi Era, 1300–1357. 10th ed. Tehran: Pikan. [In Persian]
Mahdavi, F. (1984). Interview with Fereydoun Mahdavi. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University. [In Persian]
Mahvi, A.-F. (1985). Interview with Abolfath Mahvi. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 16. [In Persian]
Mehr, F. (1984). Interview with Farhang Mehr. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University. https://iranhistory.net/mehr [In Persian]
Mintz, Alex (2004). “How Do Leaders Make Decisions? A Poliheuristic Perspective”. The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 48 (1), 3-13.
Moghadam, G. (1983). Interview with Gholam-Reza Moghadam. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 17. [In Persian]
Naderi, A., Houshangi, H.-R. (1399). The Deprivation Cases and Social Gap in the Second Pahlavi Era (Causes and Contexts). State Studies of Contemporary Iran,, 6(3), 93–115. [In Persian]
Nafisi, H. (1984). Interview with Habib Nafisi. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 18. [In Persian]
Nahavandi, H. (1985). Interview with Houshang Nahavandi. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 19. [In Persian]
Nahavandi, H., Bomati, Y. (1392). Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: The last Shahanshah, 1919–1980. France: Sherkat-e Ketab. [In Persian]
Neack, Laura (2019) (Fourth Edition). Studying Foreign Policy comparatively: Cases and Analysis. Newyork, United States: Rowman & Littlefield.
Norouzi Chelcheh, M & Sheikhzadeh, H & Mohammadi Masiri, A (2025). Structural Analysis of U.S. Political and Security Influence in the Pahlavi Monarch. State Studies of Contemporary Iran, 1(10), 137–16 [In Persian]
Pahlavi, M. R. (1337). The Royal Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shahanshah of Iran. Tehran: Ettela’at. [In Persian]
Pahlavi, M. R. (1346). The White Revolution. 2nd ed. Tehran: Royal Library. [In Persian]
Pahlavi, M. R. (1348). Official foreign trip speeches, 1346–1347. Tehran: Faculty of Law and Political Science. [In Persian]
Pahlavi, M. R. (1352). Statements, interviews and messages of His Imperial Majesty the Shahanshah Aryamehr. Tehran: Ministry of Information, Directorate General of Publications. [In Persian]
Pahlavi, M. R. (1355). Toward the Great Civilization. Tehran: Pahlavi Library. [In Persian]
Pahlavi, M. R. (n.d.). Selected writings and speeches of the Shahanshah Aryamehr. [In Persian]
Pirasteh, M. (1985). Interview with Mehdi Pirasteh. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University. [In Persian]
Price, Richard and Christian Reus – Smith (1998), "Dangerous Liaisons? Critical International Theory and Constructivism", European Journal of International Relations, Vol. 4, No. 3.
Qashqai, M.-N. (1983). Interview with Mohammad-Naser Qashqai. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 14. [In Persian]
Ramzi-Ataei, A. (1985). Interview with Abbas Ramzi Ataei. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 11. [In Persian]
Saeedi, A.-A. (1399). Technocracy and economic policymaking in Iran: In conversation with Reza Niazmand. 17th ed. Tehran: Louh-e Fekr. [In Persian]
shariati, S. and Yousefi, A. (2020). Corona Pandemic and Foreign policy of Iran: A Poliheuristic Overview. Research Letter of Political Science, 15(2), 119-146. doi: 10.22034/ipsa.2020.402  [In Persian]
Soltani Ahmadi, M., Gohari Fakhrabad, M., Pourqanbar, M.-H. (1399). Reconsideration of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi II’s foreign policy doctrine. Faslname-ye Tarikh-e Ravabet-e Khareji, 22(85), 79–102. [In Persian]
Spragens, T. (1389). Understanding political theory (Trans. F. Rajaee). 6th ed. Tehran: Agah. [In Persian]
Sullivan, W. H. (1392). Mission to Iran: Memoirs of the last U.S. ambassador to Iran (Trans. E. Moshfeghi-Far). Tehran: Center for Islamic Revolution Documents. [In Persian]
Toufanian, H. (1985). Interview with Hassan Toufanian. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 13. [In Persian]
Vazirian, A.-H. (1398). Analysis of the Pahlavi regime’s policy in the Persian Gulf. Danesh-e Siasi, 15(1). [In Persian]
Yeganeh, M. (1982). Interview with Mohammad Yeganeh. Iranian Oral History Project, Harvard University, Vol. 20. [In Persian]
Zare’, K. (1398). Iran–Soviet political and economic relations in the Second Pahlavi period (based on unpublished Persian archives). 1st ed. Tehran: Manshur-e Samir. [In Persian]
Zonis, M. (1370). Majestic failure: The psychology of the Shah (Trans. A. Mokhber). Tehran: Tarh-e No. [In Persian]

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 20 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 20 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 21 September 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 May 2026

Share

How to cite

Statistics