Cumhurbaşkanı Ahmedinejad döneminde İran’ın bölgesel rolü.

This thesis analyzes Iran’s regional role during President Ahmadinejad era. From the beginning to the end of his presidency Iran’s role in the Middle East was highly debated due to increasing assertiveness of Iran in the region. This thesis aims at reaching grounded conclusions about the actual role of Iran in the region, during the presidency of Mahmood Ahmadinejad. To this end, this thesis offers a typology which consists of three parameters which are self-perception of Iran, regional perceptions toward Iran’s role and the hard power capacities of Iran. To do so, the thesis provides an examination of revolutionary, Islamic and national identities of Iran which offers Iran’s self-perception regarding its regional role. Then, the study tests the self-perceived regional role of Iran in regard to regional perceptions towards it and its material capacities. The thesis concludes that, Iran was a “potential regional dominant power” during President Ahmadinejad era. Besides, the thesis suggests that the regional role of Iran under President Ahmadinejad era may also be called as “regional dominator”, a term originated by Miriam Prys. The thesis also points out that, the increasing threat perception of regional countries towards Iran is viewed as a deterrent by Iran’s leaders, but it is at the same time the main obstacle for Iran to materialize its potential capacities.M.S. - Master of Scienc