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US Foreign Policy towards Iran: A Comparison of presidents Bush and Obama
Čermák, Michal ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
The topic of the diploma thesis is a comparison of the American activities during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama towards Iran, in regard to the threat of nuclear weapons proliferation. It observes the diplomatic actions in relation to Iran and other actors, who play an important role in this issue, and also some other methods, used by the world's leading superpower to prevent Iran from the development of nuclear weapons. The mentioned topic is situated into the broader context of continuity and change in the US security and foreign policy. The objective of the diploma thesis is to assess what where the differences in the US actions under Obama's administration, compared with the actions during the presidency of his predecessor, as well as how the Obama's administration followed them, and to assess how effective these actions were.
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Iran and Saudi Arabia as regional powers in the Middle East
Kartalová, Petra ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Střítecký, Vít (referee)
This diploma thesis deals with the relationship between two regional powers in the Middle East - Iran and Saudi Arabia. Middle East is a conflict-prone region with a delicate balance of power. We work with the assumption that a specific combination of internal and external factors caused the rise of Iran as a regional power. The balance of power in the Middle East has thus changed and Iran has started to pose a threat to Saudi Arabia that needs to be balanced. First, we analyze the theoretical concepts of power and region in international relations and subsequently we propose a definition of a regional power. The theory of balance of threat by Stephen M. Walt is used as a framework for the analysis of the Iranian threat. Last chapter of this thesis is devoted to three case studies. Here, we analytically describe particular examples of Iranian threat and its balancing by Saudi Arabia in Bahrain, Yemen and Lebanon.
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Iran-contra affair and its impact on the Reagan administration
Kotasová, Jana ; Anděl, Petr (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
Bachelor thesis is about Iran-Contra Affair which was the biggest political scandal in 80s in the United States of America and cast a shadow not only on President Ronald Reagan but on his Administration as well. National Security Council (NSC) and C.I.A. with the consent of the President were selling TOW and HAWK missiles to Iran to open a diplomatic relationship. But mainly USA wanted a release of American citizens held hostage in Lebanon by Hezbollah. Some NSC members from their own initiative were transferring money from arms transactions to Nicaraguan fighters against regime called contras. As soon as all those information came public President ordered to start an investigation to find out if there were any laws broken. Independent Commissions also tried to find out how the President was involved in this scandal. The first chapter of this thesis deals with President Reagan before and after presidential elections and his two terms in office. Second and third chapter are focusing on topics related to the affair - background and situation in Nicaragua and Iran. Fourth chapter analyzes the affair itself and fifth chapter is revealing results and consequences of the scandal in USA.
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Přístup Bushovy administrativy k otázce iránského jaderného programu: od teorie k praxi
Štěpánková, Jitka ; Bečka, Jan (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
Iranian nuclear program has presented a problem for many years. Even though the regime in Tehran has not formally announced its quest to develop nuclear weapons and has actually denied such accusations, the international community concluded from the actions of the regime that the development of nuclear weapons is the ultimate goal of Tehran. The United States reacted to the course of events and tried to limit the program or stop it altogether. The Bush Administration was not an exception in this regard. Even though the attitude towards Iran changed during 2001 - 2009, the nuclear program progressed further and still presents a great danger. Not only politicians but also academics, experts and analytics were trying to answer the question how to curb the program most effectively. This thesis analyzes and compares concepts of scholars with the actual policy practiced by the Bush Administration and finds out that both approaches vary quite significantly. While the majority of scholars recommended the administration to limit the economic sanctions and refrain from aggressive rhetoric concerning the possibility of military action, the American government tightened the sanctions and sustained the option of intervention. Since Iran still continues with its nuclear program, it can be asserted that the...
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Iranian religious and conservative sphere on the web
Beranová, Lucie ; Šisler, Vít (advisor) ; Stříbrná, Adriana (referee)
The aim of this thesis is to investigate and identify the present status of the internet as a platform for the presentation of conservative political and religious groups in today's Iran. In its first part, a brief historical survey is presented, suggesting that the internet was initially perceived by these groups with suspicion. The thesis then proceeds to explore how all of them have gradually embraced the internet as a tool to achieve their particular goals. In a detailed central section, the thesis explores the structure and content of the web presentation of important Shia institutions and clerics, religious students, the Revolutionary Guards, and influential conservative weblogs offered by individuals. The analysis of their content hopes to provide an insight into the methods used to target the audience and also to demonstrate the diversity of opinion and degree of internal strife among these groups and their supporters. On the basis of this research, the final part of the essay concludes that the internet is both a new and indispensable tool of analysis for current Iranian politics and society, providing a previously hidden insight into the immense diversity of opinion among pro-regime groups.
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Transformation of Wedding Traditions in Contemporary Iran
Yaka, Denisa ; Kříhová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Ondráš, František (referee)
This bachelor thesis focuses on the transformation of Iranian wedding traditions in contemporary Iran and also deals with the impact of the West on these customs and traditions that accompany nuptial and pre-nuptial ceremonies. The thesis consists both of a theoretical- descriptive part and a research done via Internet in the form of questionnaires and interviews. The aim of the thesis is to find out how much the Western society and its culture affect Iranian weddings and discover current trends in this field. The first chapter is the introduction, which introduces the reader to the topic and explains the reasons of author for choosing the topic. The second chapter deals with the development of the position of women in Iranian society with focus on its transformation in the 20th century. This chapter helps the reader understand social and cultural connections which formed and still form the way of thinking in this society and lead to the discontinuation of some old wedding traditions or willingness to accept and adopt new customs and traditions. The following chapter provides information about the method of Internet research and also includes a list of respondents and their basic characteristics. The main part of the thesis is called Iranian customs and traditions in contemporary Iran. In its...
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Authoritarian regime in Iran. Early years of Pahalavis's rule.
Ducháčková, Michaela ; Buben, Radek (advisor) ; Koubek, Jiří (referee)
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to analyze the Iranian regime in early years of Pahlavis rule and to apply Linz typology of non-democratic regimes. The theoretical part focuses on the characterization of each type of non-democratic regimes (except for posttotalitarianism) on the basis of Linz's four dimensions - pluralism, ideology, mobilization and leadership. The empirical part deals with certain aspects and features of regimes that are relevant for the evaluation, why the concept of authoritarianism is most suitable for Iran. Early years of Reza Shah's rule (1926 - 1933) and Mohammad Reza's rule (1953 - 1963) are analyzed separately. All the results are then summarized and both regimes are compared.
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Comparing the US and European Union Security Policies Related to the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation
Kocková, Tereza ; Jireš, Jan (advisor) ; Slačálek, Ondřej (referee)
The purpose of this assignment is to compare and contrast the non-proliferation policies of the European Union and the United States after 9/11, based on key documents. To begin the focus will be on weapons of mass destruction (WMD); definition, types, key agreements and the organisations fighting against the proliferation. The research will continue by addressing the non-proliferation policy of the EU and the USA on key documents and case studies and how their approach to the iranian nuclear programme has been affected by them. Finally to conclude there will be an analysis of the differences between the policies.
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Rogue State Concept and the US Foreign Policy towards Iran and North Korea
Černá, Veronika ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
Master thesis deals with the concept of "rogue states" and strategies of the United States that are used towards rogue states. Concretely, attention is focused on two such labeled countries - Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Strategies used by the United States are further observed during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama and with regard to two typical characteristics of rogue states - effort to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the support of terrorism. Despite expectations, it appears that strategies used by the United States differ significantly and they are often influenced by historical experiences and strategic interests. Bush's and Obama's foreign policies were significantly different on the rhetorical level. However, as shown in the thesis there can be found certain continuities between the strategies towards rogue states.
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Missiles and Radars as Security DilemmaThe Case of the Third Pillar of the U.S. Missile Defence in Central Europe
Kantor, Lukáš ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor)
The thesis deals with the former Bush's plan of the so-called third pillar of the American missile defense system in Poland and Czech republic. We demonstrate on this topic the value of several key (neo)realist theoretical concepts. Specifically, the exact types and functioning of security dilemmas are analyzed in the framework of American-Russian, American-Iranian and American-Czech/Polish relations. The thesis also illustrates the importance of related modalities of deterrence and shows, which states and how balanced the US. In addition to that, attention is paid to the question whether the "shield" was motivated by defensive realist worries about security or rather by offensive realist struggle for power and gains at the expense of others.
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