Research

My research explores international relations and comparative politics, with a focus on great power competition, U.S.–China rivalry, and the strategies of small and middle powers amid China’s rise, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. I use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including original datasets and elite interviews in Arabic, English, and Chinese.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Dana Abu-Haltam. 2026. “Navigating Great Power Competition: Jordan’s Response to US–China 5G Rivalry.” Asian Perspective. [paper]
  • Wonjae Hwang, Jeeseon Hwang, Tianjing Liao, and Dana Abu-Haltam. 2026. “Does Health Aid Mitigate Interstate Hostility? Evidence from the US and China.” Asian Survey. [paper]
  • Dana Abu-Haltam. 2025. “How to Politely Say No: Jordan’s Indirect Bandwagoning Behavior toward US–China Competition.” Foreign Policy Analysis. [paper]
  • Dana Abu-Haltam. 2025. “Where to Throw the Hook? Chinese Strategic Partnership Selection and Its Effectiveness.” Chinese Political Science Review. [paper] [dataset]
  • Dana Abu-Haltam. 2020. “The Chinese and United States Interests in Taiwan.” Journal of Strategic and Military Studies 2(8): 139–153.
  • Dana Abu-Haltam. 2020. “One Belt One Road Initiative: A Win-Win Partnership.” Journal of Afro-Asian Studies 2(7): 147–161.

Revise & Resubmit

  • “Why Sanction and Simultaneously Provide Foreign Aid?” With Wonjae Hwang and Tianjing Liao. International Political Science Review.
  • “Bridging Divides: Insights from U.S. Mediation in the Lebanese–Israeli Delimitation Crisis for Future Engagements between Greece and Turkey.” With Krista Wiegand. Mediterranean Politics.

Under Review

  • “Tri-Alignment: Bahrain’s Survival Strategy amid an Era of Global Power Shifts.”
  • “The UAE’s AI Strategy amid Intensifying U.S.–China Technological Competition.” Chapter in Middle Power Strategy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Routledge.
  • “How Do Middle Powers Navigate Great Power AI and Technological Rivalries?” With Lawrence Rubin and Ahmet Ergurum.
  • “North Africa and the BRICS Countries.” With Ahmet Ergurum.

Working Papers

  • “Beyond Survival: Saudi Arabia’s Geopolitical Strategy amid U.S.–China Competition.” Winner, 2025 Gulf Studies Graduate Paper Award, Gulf International Forum, Georgetown University.
  • “Sticks for Allies, Carrots for Others: How the United States Responds to China’s Strategic Partnerships.” With YanChuan Liu.
  • “Stabilizing or Destabilizing? The Effects of Chinese Arms Sales on Recipient States.”
  • “Copying China: When and Why States Adopt Chinese Domestic Policies.”
  • “Mediation as Strategy: Chinese and Saudi Arabia’s Mediation Roles in International Conflict Resolution.” With Tingyi Wang and Rufei Li.

Other Publications & Media

  • “Caught in the Middle: A Glimpse from Jordan into U.S.–China Competition in the Middle East.” Interview, China Institute, University of Alberta, 2026. [interview]
  • “Foreign Policy and Economics: How Arab Public Opinion Correlates with Global Leaders’ Actions.” Arab Barometer, 2026. [blog]
  • “Arab Views on the United Nations: Navigating Conflict, Corruption, and Credibility.” Arab Barometer, 2025. [blog]
  • Dana Abu-Haltam. 2025. “Dataset for ‘Where to Throw the Hook? Chinese Strategic Partnership Selection and Its Effectiveness in Achieving Influence.'” Harvard Dataverse, V1. [dataset]