My research focuses on research focuses on state alignment strategies, particularly how Middle Eastern and North African countries navigate the U.S.-China competition. In my research, I use a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
INTERESTS
Great Power Competition, Foreign Policy, MENA Region, Alliances, Strategic Partnerships, External Influence, Trade Dependence, Military Influence, Foreign Aid, Voting Behavior, and Public Opinion.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Dana Abu-Haltam. “Navigating Great Power Competition: Jordan’s Response to US-China 5G Rivalry.” Forthcoming at Asian Perspective.
Dana Abu-Haltam. 2025.”How to Politely Say No: Jordan’s Indirect Bandwagoning Behavior towards US-Chinese Competition.“ Foreign Policy Analysis.
Dana Abu-Haltam. 2025. “Where to Throw the Hook? Chinese Strategic Partnership Selection and Its Effectiveness in Achieving Influence.“ Chin. Polit. Sci. Rev. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41111-025-00297-z
- Dana Abu Haltam. 2020. “The Chinese and United States Interests in Taiwan.” Journal of Strategic and Military Studies, Eighth Issue, September 2020, ISSN 2626-093X.
- Dana Abu Haltam. 2020. “One Belt One Road Initiative: A Win-Win Partnership.“ Journal of Afro-Asian Studies, Seventh Issue, November 2020, ISSN 2628-6475.
Other Publications
- Abu Haltam, Dana, 2025, “Dataset for “Where to Throw the Hook? Chinese Strategic Partnership Selection and Its Effectiveness in Achieving Influence”“ Harvard Dataverse, V1
- Abu-Haltam, Dana, 2025, “Arab Views on the United Nations: Navigating Conflict, Corruption, and Credibility” https://www.arabbarometer.org/2025/04/why-do-arabs-favor-the-united-nations/
R&R and Under Review
- “Does Health Aid Reduce Interstate Hostility? The Cases of the U.S. and China” (With Wonjae Hwang, Jeeseon Hwang, and Tianjing Liao) R&R Asian Survey
- “Tri-Alignment: Bahrain’s Survival Strategy Amid an Era of Global Power Shifts” Under Review
- “Bridging Divides: Insights from US Mediation in the Lebanese-Israeli Delimitation Crisis for Future Engagements Between Greece and Turkey.” (With Krista Wiegand) Under Review
Working Papers
- “Beyond Survival: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Policy Toward U.S. – China Competition”
◊ Winner, 2025 Gulf Studies Graduate Paper Award, Gulf Studies Symposium, Gulf International Forum, Georgetown University, 2025. - “How Do Middle Powers Navigate Great Power AI and Technological Rivalries?” (With Lawrence Rubin and Ahmet Ergurum)
- “Mediation as Strategy: Comparing Saudi and Chinese Roles in Regional Conflict Resolution” (With Tingyi Wang)
- “Great Powers’ UN Voting Alignment with Smaller Countries: Assessing Effectiveness in Jordan.” (With Desmond Shmavonian & Leena Malik)
- “Stability or Chaos: Chinese Arms Sales to the Middle East“(With Mark Berlin)