The Impact of US on Australia, Japan and South Korea Relations with Iran
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The Impact of US on Australia, Japan and South Korea Relations with Iran

In contrast with the 2003-2016 period, the Asia-Pacific alliance and Iran have had a long-term relationship. In the past, Australia, Japan and South Korea attempted to maintain and develop their trade and economic objectives in the Middle East, by forging diplomatic and trade relations with Iran. For instance, during the 1980s crises including the 1980-1981 US embassy hostage crisis and the 1989’ fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini against the British author Salman Rushdie led to strong anti-Iranian reactions from the international community, culminating with the dismantling of diplomatic relations between Iran and US allies. Asia-Pacific alliance countries response to these and other incidents (see the Iran-Iraq war), resumed to condemnations and only temporary slump in trade. However, the last decade has seen the antagonism between the US and Iran increasingly influencing Iran’s bilateral relationship with Asia-Pacific allies. For example, concerns with Iran’s non-compliance with IAEA’s decisions in the nuclear technology field as well as human rights violations, determined them to take, at times tougher measures, including implementing wider sanctions against Iran. For example, after the United Nation Security Council resolution issued sanctions against Iran in 2006, they decided to implement these resolutions and went even further, by adding its own autonomous sanctions in 2008 by some Asia-Pacifice allies like Australia. This has complicated the relationship between US allies in Asia-Pacific and Iran, by having adverse effects on trade between Australia, Japan and South Korea and Iran.

This project looks at the understudied evolution of Australia, Japan and South Korae relations with Iran through the analytical framework constructed around the concept of US Asia- Pacific Alliance and the role of the Impact of the US on Australia, Japan and South Korea relations With Iran. In this sense, the project proposes to explore the changes in the relations between Australia, Japan and South Korea and Iran in the shadows of the US primacy. An important wider research question that the project aims to investigate is if, when and why does Asia-Pacific ally’s foreign policy towards Iran aligns or diverge from the US. This research aims to examine the pattern of Australia, Japan and South Korea historical cooperation with Iran and the important for both parties to reinvigorate their relations, including in the trade area where the past tells us there are significant opportunities as Iran has been one of the largest trade partner for the allies in the Middle East.

This methodology uses a composite method combining comparative case study (that is the policies of Australia, South Korea and Japan in relation to Iran) and process tracing (the evolution of these policies, critical junctures etc).

Please explain what these two methods are, what are their strengths, why I have chosen to use them, and how would they apply to my project.

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