Leaders in the Middle East and North Africa: How Ideology Shapes Foreign Policy

The Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs program on Autocracy and Democracy presents “Leaders in the Middlebury East and North Africa: How Ideology Shapes Foreign Policy” with Dr. Sercan Canbolat, inaugural director of Abrahamic Programs at the University of Connecticut’s (UConn) Global Affairs and a postdoctoral research associate UConn’s Department of Political Science.

To what extent are the foreign policies of MENA nations influenced by the personalities and personal beliefs of their leaders? Canbolat addresses this question with a comprehensive at-a-distance psychological assessment of contemporary MENA leaders. They illustrate connections between the leaders of avowedly distinct political ideologies, from Shia revolutionism to Sunni political Islam, from secular nationalism to armed non-state actors. Showing the previously understudied similarities and divergences in these leaders’ foreign policy behavior, they shed light on leaders’ tactics and strategies and offer novel insights into how best to negotiate with them in MENA, which is one of the most turbulent regions in the world today.

Co-sponsored by International and Global Studies (Middle East and North African Studies).

In person event. For more information visit the Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs.