Sanctioned State: The Effects of International Sanctions on Iran's Internal Politics.

摘要

Iran is a clear obstacle to U.S. hegemony in the Middle East. Iran has embraced a balancing role to the United States, and has survived (and even thrived) in spite of heavy international pressure to adhere to international norms. This international pressure is largely directed against Iran's lack of transparency with regard to its nuclear program. Iran has faced unilateral U.S. sanctions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. One of the arguments in favor of imposing sanctions on states outside international norms is the desire to effect change upon the targeted state. This thesis explores the relation between sanctions imposed on Iran, the rise of the Iranian reform movement, and the resurgence of conservatives in the country. By exploring the relationship among the aforementioned variables, the thesis seeks to determine what effects sanctions have had on Iran's internal politics and industry, with particular focus on Iran's reform movement and subsequent conservative resurgence.