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Amnon Aran

Professor Amnon Aran

Professor of International Politics of the Middle East

School of Policy & Global Affairs Department of International Politics

Contact details

About

Overview

Professor of International Politics of the Middle East, School of Policy and Global Affairs

Professor Aran joined the Department in September 2009. He was previously a Fellow in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His main research interests lie in the international relations of the Middle East, with special reference to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the foreign policy of Middle Eastern states.

Professor Aran has also contributed to policy-making forums through his work with the European Union's Middle East Peace Task Force, ETN Zurich, Oxford Analytica, and he has commentated on Middle Eastern affairs for the BBC, Bloomberg and CCTV. His book – Israeli foreign policy since the end of the Cold War- was recently published by Cambridge University Press. Professor Aran has also published in academic journals such as International Affairs, and International Politics and Foreign Policy Analysis.

Professor Aran has extensive experience in written, radio and television media commentary.

Teaching

- The International Politics of the Middle East (IP3008, BSc module)
- The International Politics of the Middle East (IPM018, MSc module)
- Theories and Research Strategies in International Politics (IP2011)

Research

Professor Aran's main research interests lie in the international relations of the Middle East, with special reference to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the foreign policy of Middle Eastern states.

His work also engages with International Relations theory, particularly foreign policy analysis and globalisation.

PhD Supervision

Professor Aran welcomes PhD supervision on the following topics:

- Israel
- The Palestinians
- The Arab-Israeli conflict
- The foreign policy of Middle Eastern States
- Foreign Policy Analysis
- Feminist Foreign Policy

Research Students

1. Miranda Crowdus, Building the House Anew’: Intercultural Music Communities, Activism and Advocacy in the Tel Aviv-Yafo Underground (Co-Supervision with the Music Department. Completed (October 2014).

2. Pietro De-Perini, From Inception to Professinoanlisation: The Evolution of Intercultural Dialogue in EU Mediterranean Policies, 1990-2014. Completed (September 2016) and published as a book.

3. Leonie Fleischmann, The Transformation of Israeli Peace Activism since the Second Intifada. Completed (November 2015) and published as a book.

4. Shelly Gotfried, The Rise of the Israeli Oligarchs. Completed (September 2015) and published as book.

5. Omid Nouri, Revisionism in Iranian Foreign Policy after the 1979 Revolution: A Neoclassical Analysis. Completed (August, 2020).

6. Hisham Sabbagh, Failed Mediation or Failed Peace? Israeli-Syrian Negotiations 1991-2000. Completed (January 2020).

7. Efrat Sofer, Israeli-Iranian Relations 1948-1979: Beyond a Realism Analysis (Co-Supervision with the International Relations Department at the LSE. Completed (May 2017).

8. Gadi Yishayahu, Rethinking Foreign Policy Crisis: The Case of the Mavi Marmara. Completed (January, 2022) .

9. Malak Azar, Security Production in Tunisia and the UAE. Completed (December 2025).

Publications

Featured publications

  1. Aran, A. (2020). Israeli Foreign Policy since the end of the Cold War. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107052499.

Publications by category

Books (4)

  • Alden, C. (2016). Foreign Policy Analysis. Routledge.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2012). Conclusion New directions in foreign policy analysis. Routledge. ISBN 9780203640999.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2011). Foreign policy analysis: New approaches. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415427982.
  • Aran, A. (2009). Israel's foreign policy towards the PLO. Sussex: Sussex Academic Press.

Chapters (30)

  • Aran, A. (2025). Domestic turmoil and foreign policy uncertainty. In Aggestam, K. (Ed.), Israel. Democratic Backsliding and Elusive Peace (pp. 119-136). Lund, Sweden: Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University. ISBN 9789181047653.
  • Aran, A. (2021). Vulnerable Ties. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 366-386).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Unpicking the Oslo Accords. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 148-168).
  • Aran, A. (2021). The Road Map for Regime Change. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 283-299).
  • Aran, A. (2021). The Resurgence of Unilateralism. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 300-325).
  • Aran, A. (2021). The End of the Road. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 342-365).
  • Aran, A. (2021). The Dividends of Engagement. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 124-147).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Redirection. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 33-58).
  • Aran, A. (2021). On the Brink of Peace? ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 59-86).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Just Beyond Reach. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 195-214).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Israeli Foreign Policy since the End of the Cold War Introduction. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 1-+).
  • Aran, A. (2021). In Search of a Foreign Policy Paradigm. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 239-261).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Events Dear Boy, Events. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 326-341).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Epilogue: Israel's Wondrous Decade? ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 387-402).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Entrenchment. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 12-32).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Engagement under Assault. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 104-123).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Backtracking. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 169-194).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Between Engagement and Unilateralism. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 215-238).
  • Aran, A. (2021). Engagement Incomplete. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 87-103).
  • Aran, A. (2021). A Perfect Storm. ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR (pp. 262-282).
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2017). Foreign policy, globalization and the study of foreign policy analysis. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS: NEW APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION (pp. 107-124). ISBN 9781138934290.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2017). Foreign policy decision making. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS: NEW APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION (pp. 19-44). ISBN 9781138934290.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2017). Foreign policy and change. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS: NEW APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION (pp. 125-148). ISBN 9781138934290.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2017). Foreign Policy Analysis New approaches Second edition Conclusion. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS: NEW APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION (pp. 149-160). ISBN 9781138934290.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2017). Foreign policy analysis and the state. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS: NEW APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION (pp. 87-106). ISBN 9781138934290.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2017). Bureaucracies and foreign policy. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS: NEW APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION (pp. 45-62). ISBN 9781138934290.
  • Alden, C. and Aran, A. (2017). The domestic sources of foreign policy. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS: NEW APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION (pp. 63-86). ISBN 9781138934290.
  • In Herzog, M. and Robins, P. (Eds.), (2014). The Role, Position and Agency of Cusp States in International Relations. In Routledge.
  • Aran, A. (2013). ‘Israeli Foreign Policy in Historical Perspective’. Israel's Clandestine Diplomacies London/New York: Hurst/Oxford University Press.
  • Aran, A. (2012). Europe and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Towards a New Diplomatic Engagement? Europe and the Middle East: The Hour of the EU? New York: Peter Lang.

Conference papers and proceedings (24)

  • Aran, A. (2013). Rethinking Egyptian Foreign Policy towards Israel. British International Studies Association June-.
  • Aran, A. (2013). Israel and the Arab Uprisings: Two Years On. May-, London School of Economics and Political Science.
  • Aran, A. (2013). The Middle East and the Arab Uprisings. British Ministry of Defence lecture series May-.
  • Aran, A. (2013). Briefing to Deputy Minister, Alistair Burt. The MEPP in the wake of contemporary developments March-.
  • Aran, A. (2013). From Cold peace to strategic peace? Egyptian Foreign Policy towards Israel under Mubarak. February- March, Warwick University, University of Haifa.
  • Aran, A. (2012). Israel and the Arab Uprisings: A Provisional Analysis. November-, FCO.
  • Aran, A. (2012). Containment and non-State Actors. Polis October-, University of Cambridge.
  • Aran, A. (2012). After the Arab Spring: Power Shift in the Middle East? May-, LSE.
  • Aran, A. (2012). Israel as a Cusp State. International Collaboration British Academy funded project, on the Cusp conference April-, Middle Eastern Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Aran, A. (2012). From Cold Peace to Strategic Peace? Egyptian Foreign Policy towards Israel under Mubarak, 1981-2011. BRISMES Conference March-, LSE.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Israel: Navigating the challenges of the Democracy. December-, Chatham House.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Israel amid the Arab Uprisings. November-, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Containment and territorial transnational actors: Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas. June-, British Middle East Study Association, Exeter.
  • Aran, A. (2011). The scope and nature of Israel studies in Europe. June-, Italian Middle East Study Association.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Containing Transterritorial Actors: Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas. April-, British International Study Association.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Beyond Security: Israeli Foreign Policy in Historical Perspective. March-, Kings College London.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Israel’s foreign policy since 1948. January-, London School of Economics.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Israel’s Foreign Policy in Historical Perspective. Trondheim, Norway.
  • Aran, A. (2010). The EU and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Towards a New Engagement? Forum Académique sur la Sécurité en Europre March-, Strasbourgh.
  • Aran, A. (2010). The Second Lebanon War Revisited. Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World February-, The School of Literatures, Languages, Cultures, University of Edinburgh.
  • Aran, A. (2009). From Containment to Deterrence? Israel’s Policy towards Hamas and Hezbollah since 2000. BISA Conference December-.
  • Aran, A. (2009). Israel’s Foreign Policy towards the PLO: The Impact of Globalization. Book Launch November-, Department of International Politics, City University.
  • Aran, A. (2009). The Second Lebanon War: A Turning Point in Israeli Foreign policy? November-, SOAS.
  • Aran, A. (2009). Israel and Hamas after the War in Gaza. The EU and the Middle East Peace Process Task Force April-, Paris.

Journal articles (13)

Reports (8)

  • Aran, A. (2012). Israel and the Arab Uprisings. Europe Politics and Policy Group, London School of Economics.
  • Aran, A. (2011). Keeping a Balance? Explaining Israel’s Defence and Social Welfare Expenditure in Historical Perspective. Seoul: Asia House.
  • Aran, A. (2010). Between Palestine and Iran: Saudi-Arabia and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. ETN Zurich.
  • Aran, A. (2009). The Israeli Palestinian Impasse in Strategic Update. IDEAS, LSE.
  • Aran, A. (2009). ‘Paradigmatic Progress in Israel-Palestine?’ in International Relations and Security Network. ETN Zurich.
  • Aran, A. (2008). Israel and the Palestinians after Annapolis. LFI.
  • Aran, A. (2007). The Arab Peace Initiative: The Political Implications for the Arab-Israeli Conflict. LFI.
  • Aran, A. Coming Full Circle in Gaza. Oxford Analytica.

Professional activities

Events/conferences (3)

  • EU task force for peace in the Middle East. Paris (2010).
    Description: Invited expert
  • Forum on BBC’s media coverage of the Middle East. House of Lords, London (2010).
    Description: Invited Expert
  • Round-table on the Middle East. RUSI (2009).
    Description: Invited Expert