Original Article
International Relations
Alireza Koohkan; Fatemeh Asgarian
Volume 2, Issue 5 , April 2025
Abstract
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most influential driving forces of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and has profoundly transformed various dimensions of human life, from individual lifestyles to macro-level social, economic, political, and security structures. Beyond ...
Read More
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most influential driving forces of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and has profoundly transformed various dimensions of human life, from individual lifestyles to macro-level social, economic, political, and security structures. Beyond its technological nature, AI has increasingly become a strategic instrument in global competition for power, shaping new patterns of interaction among states and non-state actors. This transformation has raised fundamental questions within the field of International Relations (IR), particularly regarding the traditional state-centric understanding of global politics.
Classical and neorealist approaches to International Relations emphasize the centrality of the state as the primary actor in global affairs and conceptualize power mainly in military and material terms. However, recent scholarship has highlighted the limitations of this perspective in explaining contemporary global dynamics driven by emerging technologies. Studies on digital power, algorithmic governance, and technological sovereignty suggest that Artificial Intelligence challenges traditional notions of power, agency, and authority by enabling new actors—such as multinational technology corporations, transnational networks, and even intelligent systems—to influence global relations.
Existing literature has examined AI’s implications in specific domains, including economic competitiveness, military modernization, cybersecurity, and governance. Nevertheless, there remains a theoretical and analytical gap regarding how Artificial Intelligence collectively contributes to abroader transition from state-centric international relations to a multi-level system of global relations. This study seeks to address this gap by analyzing the mechanisms through which AI reshapes global relations and redistributes power across multiple levels of interaction.
Research Objectives
The main objective of this research is to examine the role of Artificial Intelligence in redefining global relations within the emerging international order. Specifically, the study aims to analyze how AI contributes to the transformation of power, agency, and actorness in global relations and how it weakens the exclusive dominance of states in international politics.
The central research question guiding this study is: Through which mechanisms does Artificial Intelligence facilitate the transition from state-centric international relations to multi-level global relations? Based on this question, the research advances the following hypothesis: Artificial Intelligence, by redefining the concepts of power, agency, and political action, and by undermining the monopoly of states in international relations, contributes to a transition from state-centric international relations toward multi-level global relations. By addressing this objective, the study seeks to contribute to the theoretical debates in International Relations and Global Studies concerning technological change, global power shifts, and the future of the international order.
Research Methodology
This research adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology. Data have been collected using documentary and archival methods, including academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, policy reports, and publications from international organizations related to Artificial Intelligence and global relations.
The analytical framework of the study integrates insights from International Relations theory, particularly debates on power transformation, global governance, and multi-level analysis. Artificial Intelligence is examined as an independent variable influencing various domains of global relations—economic, political, cultural, and security—while changes in power distribution and patterns of interaction serve as the dependent variables.
Through qualitative analysis of existing documents and theoretical interpretations, the study identifies key mechanisms through which AI reshapes global relations and contributes to the emergence of a multi-level global system.
Research Findings
The findings of the research indicate that Artificial Intelligence plays a significant and multidimensional role in transforming global relations across four major domains:
Economic Relations: In the economic sphere, Artificial Intelligence has become a critical source of power and competitiveness. Advanced AI capabilities are predominantly concentrated in developed countries, leading to an increasing power gap between developed and developing states. This technological asymmetry reinforces existing global inequalities and creates new forms of dependency. AI-driven economic power reshapes global value chains, trade patterns, and financial systems, thereby redefining economic relations at both state and non-state levels.
Political Relations: In the political domain, Artificial Intelligence enhances diplomatic communication and decision-making processes. AI-based data analysis and prediction tools enable governments and international actors to anticipate political events, crises, and conflicts several days before their occurrence. This predictive capacity contributes to a redefinition of political power and authority, as those who control AI technologies gain strategic advantages in agenda-setting, crisis management, and diplomacy.
Cultural Relations: In the cultural sphere, Artificial Intelligence facilitates cross-cultural communication through language education, automated translation, and enhanced understanding of cultural diversity. These capabilities support the expansion of cultural diplomacy and soft power by enabling states and non-state actors to engage with foreign societies more effectively. As a result, AI contributes to the diffusion of cultural influence beyond traditional state-controlled channels.
Security Relations: In the security domain, Artificial Intelligence has become a central element of strategic competition among states. AI-driven military technologies, surveillance systems, and cyber capabilities intensify global rivalries and signal profound transformations in the emerging international order. AI reshapes the nature of security threats and defense strategies, reinforcing the shift toward a technologically driven balance of power.
Overall, the findings demonstrate that Artificial Intelligence operates as a transformative force that redistributes power and agency across multiple levels of global relations.
Discussion
The findings of this study indicate that Artificial Intelligence plays a decisive role in the transition from state-centric international relations to multi-level global relations by transforming power and agency across economic, political, cultural, and security domains. Rather than operating merely as a technological tool, AI functions as a structural force that reshapes global interactions and redistributes authority among states and non-state actors.
In the economic domain, Artificial Intelligence has intensified inequalities between developed and developing countries. Advanced economies have successfully integrated AI into trade policy design and economic diplomacy, enhancing exports and competitiveness, while many developing states remain marginalized due to limited technological capacity and data access. This asymmetry reflects a shift in economic power from material resources toward data and algorithmic control.
Politically, AI introduces a dual dynamic. Its predictive capabilities enable policymakers to anticipate political events and manage crises more effectively, yet its potential for data manipulation and opinion control also facilitates digital authoritarianism. Consequently, political power is increasingly exercised through control over algorithms and information flows rather than solely through formal state institutions.
In the cultural sphere, Artificial Intelligence expands opportunities for cultural diplomacy by facilitating language learning and cross-cultural communication. However, algorithmic bias remains a significant challenge, as biased systems may reproduce cultural stereotypes and undermine global cultural engagement.
From a security perspective, Artificial Intelligence has become a key arena of strategic competition. Control over advanced AI models and data infrastructures increasingly determines security power, signaling a profound transformation in the emerging international order.
Overall, Artificial Intelligence accelerates the transnationalization of power and agency by empowering technology firms, digital platforms, and global users alongside states. This redistribution of authority clearly demonstrates a shift toward multi-level global relations and challenges traditional state-centric approaches in International Relations.
Conclusion
This study concludes that Artificial Intelligence is not merely a technological innovation but a structural force reshaping the foundations of global relations. By redefining power, agency, and actorness, AI undermines the traditional state-centric framework of international relations and accelerates the transition toward a multi-level global system.
The research confirms the proposed hypothesis by demonstrating that Artificial Intelligence weakens the exclusive dominance of states and empowers new actors in economic, political, cultural, and security domains. Consequently, global relations in the emerging international order are increasingly shaped by complex interactions among states, non-state actors, and technological systems. Understanding the role of Artificial Intelligence in global relations is therefore essential for rethinking theoretical approaches in International Relations and for designing effective policies in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Original Article
International Relations
Abbas Mehraliyan; Seyed Jalal Dehghani Firooz Abadi
Volume 2, Issue 5 , April 2025
Abstract
IntroductionSecurity is inherent to humankind and is one of the most prominent issues in the field of international relations. It is a fundamental issue that is woven into all areas of life, social structures, the government, non-governmental organizations, the structure of the international system, ...
Read More
IntroductionSecurity is inherent to humankind and is one of the most prominent issues in the field of international relations. It is a fundamental issue that is woven into all areas of life, social structures, the government, non-governmental organizations, the structure of the international system, and all local and international actors. Due to its importance and relevance, security can be studied in various approaches. At first glance, this issue may fit into the mainstream framework. However, the breadth and complexity of security seem to prevent a single theory from covering all its aspects. In addition to the hard elements involved in security issues, new technologies such as artificial intelligence can pose challenges to humans, societies, institutions, and ultimately international security. In this study, while not ignoring the importance and influential and growing position of all forms of new technologies, artificial intelligence, due to some distinctive indicators compared to other scientific and technical technologies, seems to have and will have a higher position in international security issues in the future. The present study focuses on artificial intelligence and the hopes arising from its positive impact on various areas of national and international security, as well as the fears arising from the consequences of irresponsible use and the exacerbation of the gap, leading to the creation/intensification of security threats at the regional and international levels. This research seeks to present a broad picture of the positions of artificial intelligence as one of the leading and transformative technologies in the games of actors in the international system.Research Question(s): What is the impact and position of artificial intelligence in security issues and maintaining and strengthening national and international state power? What are the promises and information technology resulting come from? What direction will foreign policy take? Will anarchy continue in international relations? What will the perception of hard power and soft power in the field of security look like with the advent of artificial intelligence? How will artificial intelligence transform the balance of power on a global scale? Literature ReviewArtificial intelligence, as one of the most influential technologies and as a simultaneous source of power and potential threat, has gained a significant place in international relations discussions and analyses since the early 21st century. Rosena can perhaps be mentioned as one of the first among those, in the article "Information, Artificial Intelligence, and the Development of Analytical Skills" (James Rosena et al., 2011), who highlighted the category of artificial human intelligence and drew the attention of leaders and politicians to the value and importance of this technology. (Singh Gill, 2019) The article "Artificial Intelligence and International Security: The Long View" seeks to examine and demonstrate the importance of artificial intelligence in various areas of competition between countries, especially from a defense perspective. The article "Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Weapons" focuses on the military use of artificial intelligence, its technical aspects, as well as the development and risks of this technology, and its impact on companies active in the nuclear sector, and attempts to explain and explain the future of this advancing technology. (Johnson, 2023)MethodologyThis research, employing a descriptive-analytical method, aims to address the aforementioned questions and assess the extent of this technology's impact on social life, particularly in the context of international security, a pressing and sensitive concern for governments.ResultsThe findings of this article suggest that actors in the international system are seeking to capitalize on technological opportunities and address potential challenges to create new platforms for the application of artificial intelligence, thereby leveraging it to enhance national security and establish international standards and norms aligned with their national interests.It is also important to pay attention to the distance between official actors and moral agents in relation to artificial intelligence.
Original Article
International Relations
Arsalan Ghurbani Shikh nashin; Safiullah Mawlavi zada
Volume 2, Issue 5 , April 2025
Abstract
Introduction
The Belt and Road Initiative, launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure and connectivity projects in contemporary history. Encompassing over 150 countries across six land-based economic corridors and the 21st Century Maritime Silk ...
Read More
Introduction
The Belt and Road Initiative, launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure and connectivity projects in contemporary history. Encompassing over 150 countries across six land-based economic corridors and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the BRI aims to foster global integration through investments exceeding $1 trillion by 2027. While ostensibly focused on economic cooperation, trade facilitation, and infrastructure development, the initiative has profound geopolitical implications, reshaping power dynamics in Eurasia and beyond. China employs strategies such as "debt-trap diplomacy" and opaque contracts to expand its influence in strategic domains, including ports, energy routes, and economic corridors. For India, a traditional dominant power in the Indian Ocean and South Asia, the BRI poses an existential threat to national security and regional hegemony. Key elements like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which traverses disputed Kashmir territories, are perceived as direct violations of India's sovereignty. Ports such as Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Djibouti form China's "String of Pearls" strategy, challenging India's maritime superiority and encircling its strategic interests. This expansion has transformed India-China relations into a paradox of economic warming—bilateral trade reaching $128 billion in 2024—and security cooling, evidenced by border clashes in Galwan (2020) and Tawang (2022). The BRI has evolved from a developmental project into a tool for containing India, prompting New Delhi to revise its long-standing strategic neutrality toward hard balancing measures. This study examines the hidden competition underlying the apparent warming of India-China ties, focusing on how the BRI exacerbates geopolitical rivalry and border tensions. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from international relations, it analyzes China's global integration strategy and India's counter-responses, highlighting the structural instability in South Asia's security architecture.
Research Question(s)
How has China's Belt and Road Initiative influenced the intensification of geopolitical competition and border tensions between India and China?
Results
The findings reveal that the BRI has significantly intensified geopolitical competition between India and China, turning what were initially economic initiatives into broader security challenges. China’s strategy is implemented through three major types of corridors: maritime (e.g., the Maritime Silk Road in the Indian Ocean), hybrid (e.g., CPEC and the Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar corridor), and land-based (e.g., the China–Central Asia–West Asia route). By 2025, more than 147 countries had joined the BRI, accounting for roughly one-third of global GDP and half of the world’s population. Investments reached $550 billion by early 2023, with projections estimating up to $7.5 trillion in annual additions to global GDP by 2040.The evidence also shows that BRI corridors converging on India’s periphery pose strategic implications. Along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC)—divided into western (Ladakh), middle, and eastern sectors—China occupies 38,000 sq km of Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan ceded an additional 5,183 sq km to China in 1963. CPEC, valued at $62 billion, passes through Gilgit-Baltistan, facilitating the presence of more than 30,000 Chinese personnel. Confrontations at Galwan (2020) and Tawang (2022) further highlight the security implications. In the Indian Ocean, the “String of Pearls” network—including Chittagong ($2.41 billion), Kyaukpyu ($7.4 billion), Gwadar ($50.6 billion), and Hambantota ($1.47 billion)—supports China’s naval shift from “near seas defense” to “far seas protection.” Incidents such as submarine visits to Colombo (2014), naval patrols (2017), and the establishment of the Djibouti base (2016) reflect China’s expanding security footprint. Regionally, China’s influence surpasses India’s: investments in South and Central Asia each exceeded $25 billion by mid-2025, and ASEAN trade reached $468.8 billion compared to India’s $78.9 billion.
Discussion
For India, the BRI constitutes a multidimensional challenge that intersects border security, regional influence, and maritime strategy. The integration of economic corridors with military and infrastructural capabilities—particularly in CPEC and the Indian Ocean—creates overlapping layers of vulnerability. China’s growing presence in Gilgit-Baltistan challenges India’s territorial claims and reinforces Sino-Pakistani alignment, complicating India's border management along the LAC. Maritime developments similarly weaken India’s self-perception as the “net security provider” in the Indian Ocean. India’s response has involved a mix of internal, regional, and global strategies. Domestically, steps such as the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 aimed to consolidate governance in Jammu and Kashmir. Regionally, projects like Chabahar Port ($500 million), the International North–South Transport Corridor, and the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC, launched at the 2023 G20 Summit) seek to provide alternatives to BRI routes. Globally, India has strengthened its participation in the Quad, supported G7’s B3W initiative, and engaged with the EU’s Global Gateway as part of broader coalition-building. From a balance-of-threat perspective, India’s hybrid balancing—combining limited internal balancing with selective external alignments—slows China’s strategic expansion but does not eliminate underlying tensions. The long-term stability of South Asia will depend on greater transparency in BRI financing, improved border management mechanisms, and more equitable regional market access. BRI’s persistent opacity and security externalities continue to shape a competitive and uncertain regional environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Belt and Road Initiative has not only created economic opportunities but has fueled a hidden competition in India-China relations, posing severe threats to India's national security through territorial encroachments, maritime encirclement, and regional dominance. India's multifaceted balancing—via policy shifts in Kashmir, parallel initiatives like IMEC and Chabahar, and alliances such as the Quad—has partially preserved geopolitical equilibrium but intensified border disputes and security challenges. Findings affirm that without transparency, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in territorial conflicts, the BRI will continue catalyzing instability in South Asia. India must sustain active balancing against Beijing, reshaping regional security architecture. Future research could explore economic impacts post-2030 or comparative analyses with other BRI-affected powers.
Original Article
International Relations
Saeed Shookohi; Zahra Ghasempour Shirazi
Volume 2, Issue 5 , April 2025
Abstract
The South Caucasus region, due to its geopolitical location, energy resources, and its position as a crossroads between Asia and Europe, has always been a focal point of competition among great powers. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, players such as Russia, the United States, and China have sought ...
Read More
The South Caucasus region, due to its geopolitical location, energy resources, and its position as a crossroads between Asia and Europe, has always been a focal point of competition among great powers. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, players such as Russia, the United States, and China have sought to establish their presence in this region. In this context, China has strengthened its presence in the Caucasus by leveraging its economic growth and implementing the "Belt and Road Initiative." This presence can be analyzed within Beijing’s financial, energy, and geostrategic interests. On the other hand, the geopolitical developments resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war have altered the positions of regional and extra-regional actors, providing an opportunity for China to expand its influence in the Caucasus. In this context, the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor has become a strategically important alternative route for connecting China to Europe, bypassing Russia. This study, using the framework of offensive realism, examines the question of how China’s foreign policy in the Caucasus might impact Iran’s national interests. Accordingly, this research hypothesizes that China aims to create a balance between Russia and the United States in the region, and this approach could open the door for aligning interests with Iran. The paper seeks to analyze the geopolitical, economic, and strategic dimensions of this issue.
