Objective
Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are three major Middle Eastern non-state actors (MENSA) exercising hybrid governance across Gaza, southern Lebanon, and northern Yemen. Characterised as Iranian proxies and designated terrorist organisations by the US and allies, these entities demonstrate autonomous foreign policy decision-making that challenges traditional proxy frameworks. The June 2025 Israel-Iran conflict provides empirical evidence of strategic autonomy when all three MENSA chose restraint over military engagement despite Iranian involvement, prioritising diplomatic leverage over proxy obligations and have held direct negotiations with US and other major powers since October 2023.
This project conducts systematic comparative foreign policy analysis of MENSA toward regional powers (Iran, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, UAE, Qatar) and global actors (US, EU, Russia, China, UK) to assess the balance between Iranian coordination and independent strategic calculation. Employing innovative methodological approaches including parallel diplomatic mapping, longitudinal crisis-impact analysis, and multi-source integration, the research examines official foreign policy statements, founding documents, leadership interviews, media discourse, and diplomatic practices including ceasefire talks and hostage exchanges. Primary data collection includes 63 semi-structured interviews with MENSA external affairs officials, regional/global foreign ministry representatives, and expert stakeholders. This project addresses critical gaps including comparative MENSA frameworks, Houthis' FP analysis, post-October 7 developments, and hybrid actor theories, developing a novel 'hybrid sovereignty actors' analytical framework that uniquely combines theoretical innovation with practical policy relevance.
The 24-month research uses triangulation across sources, advanced qualitative methods, and reliability testing, delivering theoretical frameworks and EU policy recommendations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology governance
- social sciences political sciences political transitions terrorism
- social sciences political sciences political policies foreign policy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CF37 1DL Pontypridd
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.