Engaging Iran: Competing Values in Argumentation and the Inability for the United States and Iran to Come to Diplomatic Terms

Author:

• James C. Bunker (University of Utah)

Abstract:

This paper explores the role of values in diplomatic discourse between Iran and the United States and suggests that the inability for these two countries to successfully negotiate is impeded by contrasting conceptions of the abstract value "national security." In order to achieve this objective this essay distinguishes how both countries develop contrasting concrete values in their argumentation over the issue of nuclear proliferation and when combined provide competing alternatives for an abstract value such as national security.