“Leaders in the Middle East and North Africa, How Ideology Shapes Foreign Policy” is a new book coauthored by Assoc. Prof. Özgür Özdamar and Dr. Sercan Canbolat (IR’2014 MA graduate).
Published by Cambridge University Press, the book explores the study of leadership in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Traditionally, the study of politics in the MENA region has been dominated by historical and casestudy approaches. In “Leaders in the Middle East and North Africa,” Dr. Özdamar, chair of the Department of International Relations and Dr. Canbolat instead adopt a social science-based methodology to reconsider the dynamics of power and leadership in Africa and the Middle East. By analyzing the psychological profiles of 14 leaders across eight countries and three nonstate organizations, they develop a nuanced portrait of modern leadership. Demonstrating the previously unacknowledged commonalities and divergences in these leaders’ approaches, Özdamar and Canbolat illuminate their tactics and strategies and offer novel insights into how best to negotiate with them.
The book received the “Best Book in Foreign Policy Analysis” award from the International Studies Association (ISA). There will be an awards ceremony in April 2024 at the meeting to be held in San Francisco.
