Research

My current research projects span four major areas:

(1) Foreign Policy Analysis

Foreign policy consequences of democratic transition and consolidation within the Global South. I especially focus on how the process of democratization within African and Middle Eastern countries affects the roles of state actors (e.g., Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliament) and non-state actors (e.g., political parties and public opinion) in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy.

Current projects

“Beyond the ‘Big Man’: Impact of Democratic Transition and Consolidation on the Formulation and Implementation of African Foreign Policies” (solely authored book)

“The Impact of Democratization on the Formulation and Implementation of Tunisian Foreign Policy in the Post-Revolutionary Era” (working paper with Kirstie Lynn Dobbs)

“From Father to Son: Morocco’s Monarchy and the Evolution of the Formulation and Implementation of Moroccan Foreign Policy (working paper with Michael J. Schumacher)

(2) United States and European Foreign Policies toward Africa and the Middle East

Formulation and implementation of United States and European foreign policies toward Africa and the Middle East during the cold war (1947-89), post-cold war (1989-2001), and post-9/11 (2001-present) eras.

Current projects

“Relationship between Religiosity and Tunisian Public Opinion as Concerns U.S. Foreign Policy” (working paper with David Doherty and Jacob Hartman)

“Advice from One Former Empire (Carthaginian) to Another (United States): Evolving Tunisian Perceptions of U.S. Foreign Policy” (working paper).

(3) African Politics and International Relations (including North Africa)

Specialist of political-military and socio-economic trends throughout all regions of the African continent, including North Africa. I am particularly interested in the evolving nature of African nationalism, political protests and revolutions, and democratic transition and consolidation.

Current projects

“Understanding Contemporary Africa” (6th revised edition) (Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers) (editor) (forthcoming book, July 2020).

“Does Domestic Political Instability Foster Terrorism? Global Evidence from the Arab Spring Era (2011-14).” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism (with Michael Schumacher) (forthcoming 2021).

“Do Democratic Revolutions ‘Activate’ Participants? The Case of Tunisia.” Politics 40, 2 (May 2020): 170-88 (with David Doherty and Kirstie Lynn Dobbs).

(4) Intervention in World Politics

Effectiveness of various tools of intervention in global affairs, including diplomacy, economic and military aid, economic sanctions, covert intervention, paramilitary intervention, and direct military intervention. I especially focus on the evolution of United States interventionist practices in all regions of the world, from the American Revolution of 1776 to the present.

Current projects

“Intervention Abroad: United States Foreign Policy toward the Global South” (co-edited book with Peter Sanchez and Michael Schumacher)

“Be Careful What You Wish For: The Relationship between the Third Wave of Democratization and Global Terrorism” (working paper with Tofigh Maboudi and Michael J. Schumacher)

“Collective Action, Foreign Fighting, and the Global Struggle for the Islamic State” Democracy and Security (with Michael J. Schumacher) (forthcoming 2021).