REMIT researcher Raluca Moldovan (Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj Napoca) has penned an op-ed on the EUXGLOB platform focusing on the current developments in the Middle East seen through the lens of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) methodology.
Raluca Moldovan, associate professor at BBU, specialising in the contemporary Middle East, comments on her piece:
“Applying the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) to the contemporary Middle East reveals a region shaped by competing coalitions with distinct policy beliefs and long-term objectives. The U.S.-Saudi-Israel bloc, the Iran-Russia-China axis, and the energy realignment coalition exemplify the complex policymaking dynamics that drive regional shifts. While external shocks—such as the Saudi-Iran rapprochement, the Ukraine war, and the Abraham Accords negotiations—play a role in reshaping alliances, policy learning occurs gradually, with actors adapting to new realities over time.
As the Middle East moves toward a multipolar world, understanding these coalitions will be essential for predicting policy trajectories and anticipating future conflicts and cooperation.”
Abstract
The Middle East, as of February 2025, stands at a critical juncture, with shifting alliances, emerging policy proposals, and enduring conflicts shaping its complex political landscape. Applying the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) offers a nuanced lens to understand the intricate interplay of coalitions vying to influence policy directions in the region.
Full Citation
Moldovan, R. “Examining the Complex Dynamics of the Contemporary Middle East through the Lens of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF),” EUXGLOB, February 2025.
https://euxglob.ro/euxglobopinionpieces/
https://euxglob.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examining-the-Complex-Dynamics-of-the-Contemporary-Middle-East.pdf