DIVERSIRAN · Diversification and Economic Resilience of Iran

The research project ‘DIVERSIRAN – DIVersification and Economic ReSilience of IRAN’ studies the factors that have shaped Iran's strategies for economic diversification and resilience. Economic diversification in this study is not limited to the traditional definition (i.e. the state’s strategy of diversifying economic activities from the hydrocarbon sector). Instead, it looks for factors shaping the diversification of the economy beyond the country’s borders and their implications on trade and economic partnerships. The project captures all factors that contribute towards shaping development, resilience, and diversification strategies of the Iranian economy. It provides a multifaceted analysis of the impacts of domestic political dynamics, institutional capacity, the military-political-business complex, sanctions, and regional and international affairs on Iran’s economic strategies. By providing a deeper understanding of the current economic mindset and policy implications in Iran, the research applies a forward-looking approach in assessing the long-term impact on the future socioeconomic stability of the country. The project adopts an interdisciplinary mixed-method approach by merging elements of political science, international relations, economics, and development studies. It combines qualitative content analysis of secondary data available in Farsi, English, and Arabic and process tracing in order to assess the causal relationship between factors shaping economic strategies, policy implications, and the long-term socioeconomic impacts in Iran.