The Foreign Policy of Hamas: Ideology, Decision Making and Political Supremacy (SOAS Palestine Studies)

Despite the boycott Hamas was subjected to since its victory in the 2006 parliamentary elections, it has become a significant player on the international stage.It boasts a territory identifiable by its borders, internationally recognized cease-fire lines and effective authority over a population. This book, a study in international relations, shows how Hamas willingly mobilizes Palestinian internal issues to establish its legitimacy on a global scale, and at the same time, uses its relations with non-Palestinian players to compete against its political rivals on the Palestinian national stage.Leila Seurat reveals that Hamas’s foreign and internal policy are strongly intertwined and centred mainly on Hamas’s quest for recognition.The book then is a comprehensive diplomatic history of Palestine, focused on the political orientations of Hamas towards both Israel and other countries.Its coverage spans the movement’s victory in 2006 up until more recent momentous events, including, Hamas’ r