Responding to constraints : foreign policy behavior in the authoritarian regimes of the Middle East

This thesis investigates the primary constraints on the conduct of foreign policy in the Middle East. The region has been of primary importance in the international system throughout history. However, contemporary international relations debates have been unable to explain adequately the causes of certain foreign policy behaviors in the authoritarian regimes of the Middle East. By investigating an international systemic theory, the power-bargaining approach, against subaltern realism, a theory created specifically to explain the foreign policies of developing states by looking into their domestic environments, this study attempts to establish a link between different types of constraints and foreign policy behavior. By testing each respective theory against two relevant case-studies, Egypt and Jordan, the investigation concludes that the Middle East is a unique region within the international system; consequently, in order to understand the foreign policy behaviors of its states, one must create a regionally-specific approach which takes into account the distinct characteristics of the Middle East and of the regimes in power. Finally, in most circumstances, international systemic constraints will play a constant role in the decision-making process in these regimes, while the effects of domestic constraints may vary throughout different time periods