تحلیل انتقادی حفاظ‌بندی در سیاست خارجی؛ تعاریف و گونه‌شناسی‌ها

States in the international arena use different strategies to advance their foreign policy. Hedging is one of the concepts that has been proposed in academic and policy circles to refer to a type of foreign policy strategy over the past two decades.. Accordingly, the present article attempts to critically analyze the hedging strategy in the foreign policy of states as a concept that has recently entered the academic and policymaking arena in order to help clarify its definition. The method of data collection in the present study is through library and internet searches based on the use of secondary data contained in books and articles related to hedging in the foreign policy of different countries, by focusing on their theoretical and conceptual discussions. In data analysis, we will also benefit from qualitative content analysis. In this framework, its origin is first traced; then, the numerous definitions that have been presented for this concept are categorized and criticized; next, an evaluative analysis of the classifications of protection is presented. Finally, the result of the conceptual clarification and typologies is presented in the form of conclusions. The research findings suggest that embracing hedging as an analytical concept allows us to explore the changing dynamics of power distribution in the regional and international order, which has brought about not only global power shifts but also shifts among actors in specific regions such as the Middle East, and has had significant consequences for great powers, middle powers, and small states. In this framework, what seems worthy of future research is to apply this concept to explain the contradictions that have been seen in the foreign policy of states, especially in the last few years.States in the international arena use different strategies to advance their foreign policy. Hedging is one of the concepts that has been proposed in academic and policy circles to refer to a type of foreign policy strategy over the past two decades. In this context, over the past two decades, many writings have been published about the strategies of different states in advancing their foreign policy in various regions of the world in terms of the concept of hedging. Accordingly, the present article attempts to critically analyze the hedging strategy in the foreign policy of states as a concept that has recently entered the academic and policymaking arena in order to help clarify its definition. The method of data collection in the present study is through library and internet searches based on the use of secondary data contained in books and articles related to hedging in the foreign policy of different countries, by focusing on their theoretical and conceptual discussions. In data analysis, we will also benefit from qualitative content analysis. In this framework, its origin is first traced; then, the numerous definitions that have been presented for this concept are categorized and criticized; next, an evaluative analysis of the classifications of protection is presented. Finally, the result of the conceptual clarification and typologies is presented in the form of conclusions. The research findings suggest that embracing hedging as an analytical concept allows us to explore the changing dynamics of power distribution in the regional and international order, which has brought about not only global power shifts but also shifts among actors in specific regions such as the Middle East, and has had significant consequences for great powers, middle powers, and small states. In this framework, what seems worthy of future research is to apply this concept to explain the contradictions that have been seen in the foreign policy of states, especially in the last few years.