ISSN 3121-8571
This study reconceptualises contemporary global conflict as a performative phenomenon by applying Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical framework to the Iran–U.S.–Israel crisis. Moving beyond dominant materialist and strategic paradigms in International Relations, the research advances an interpretive, interdisciplinary approach that foregrounds the symbolic, communicative, and performative dimensions of state behaviour. Drawing on qualitative analysis of official speeches, media narratives, and documented symbolic actions, the study examines how state actors construct and enact identities, manage impressions, and engage diverse audiences within a highly mediatised global arena. The findings demonstrate that geopolitical conflict unfolds simultaneously across front-stage performances—such as public diplomacy, military signalling, and rhetorical positioning—and backstage processes involving negotiation, strategic coordination, and selective disclosure. State actors are shown to perform distinct “national characters” that are continuously negotiated and contested through audience interpretation at both domestic and international levels. Furthermore, the study reveals that symbolic acts, including military operations and sanctions, function not only as strategic instruments but also as communicative performances embedded within broader narrative frameworks. By integrating insights from International Relations, media studies, and performance theory, this research contributes to addressing a critical theoretical gap concerning the enactment of power, identity, and legitimacy in global politics. It argues that understanding contemporary conflict requires attention to the interplay between material practices and performative representation. The study concludes that dramaturgical analysis provides a robust and necessary framework for interpreting the dynamics of twenty-first-century international relations in an increasingly visible and media-saturated world.
Keywords:Global conflict, dramaturgy, performance, international relations, Iran–U.S.–Israel crisis, perception, media