Political Sciences Journal

This study examines the rise of the far right in Western Europe over recent decades, highlighting how far-right movements have shifted from the margins of political life to positions of decision-making or substantial influence over public policy. The study addresses the complexities of this rise by posing key questions about the structural and contextual factors that have contributed to it. It also analyzes the main political and social consequences of this phenomenon and the extent to which it threatens the values of democracy and pluralism on which contemporary European democracies are founded.
The research seeks to understand the phenomenon in both its theoretical and practical dimensions, with particular attention to the economic, social, and cultural contexts that have fueled its growth—especially amid economic crises, waves of migration, and declining trust in traditional parties. It further explores how far-right actors have capitalized on these dynamics to present themselves as a political alternative capable of “restoring national sovereignty” and countering perceived threats to European identity.
To achieve its objectives, the study adopts two complementary methodologies: the descriptive-analytical method, which helps define the nature of the far right and identify the drivers of its rise; and the comparative method, which examines selected case studies from France, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. This dual approach allows the study to reveal both commonalities and differences across cases and to assess the political and social outcomes of this rise.
Overall, the research aims to provide a balanced and in-depth understanding of this phenomenon within a European context marked by political volatility that may reshape the future of Western democracies.

This research provides an analytical review of the general trends in the literature on authoritarian regimes in the field of political science, aiming to address the central question: How are authoritarian regimes studied, and on what analytical elements are these studies based? The study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach to examine and assess the relevant literature, with the aim of uncovering how it has explained the persistence and continuity of these regimes despite facing internal and external challenges.
The research proposes a classification of this literature into three main approaches. The first group focuses on defining authoritarian regimes and identifying their types, emphasizing the conceptual and typological dimensions. The second group pays greater attention to survival strategies, whether through examining interactions within authoritarian institutions—such as elite cohesion and resource distribution—or through analyzing the impact of external factors that either sustain or weaken these regimes. By contrast, the third group adopts a broader framework, combining multiple elements of analysis and linking survival strategies to the institutional and political transformations that these regimes undergo.
The study concludes that this third approach represents the most comprehensive and effective framework for explaining both the persistence and transformation of authoritarian regimes, as it highlights the interconnections among different elements of analysis and reveals the dynamics of continuity and change simultaneously.

This study analyzes the extent to which the Russo-Ukrainian War has influenced the structure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the policies of its member states amid the protracted nature of the conflict since February 2022 and the accompanying strategic shifts, most notably the positions of successive U.S. administrations. The research problem is framed around the central question: To what extent has the Russo-Ukrainian War reshaped the security and defense policies of NATO member states, and how has the shift in U.S. administration—particularly the return of Donald Trump to the presidency— affected the alliance’s future and its continued support for Ukraine?
The study adopts two complementary approaches: the descriptive–analytical method to collect and organize data in a way that serves the research objectives, and the institutional approach to observe and analyze NATO’s dynamics as an international organization with a distinctive nature that can both influence and be influenced by the war. The paper briefly addresses the background, causes, and developments of the conflict, then focuses on its implications for NATO members and the alliance’s future, with particular attention to how U.S. policy—from the Biden administration to the Trump administration—has interacted with the crisis.
The findings reveal that Western support, led by NATO states, enabled Ukraine to withstand Russia during the first three years of the war. However, the change of U.S. administration in January 2025 signaled emerging divergences between Washington and its European allies, indicating a potential decline in American support for Ukraine and casting uncertainty over the alliance’s cohesion and its capacity to address new security challenges.

This study offers an in-depth analysis of the political and economic dynamics underlying state fragility in Yemen after 2011, arguing that the current crisis is not merely an armed conflict but the cumulative outcome of long-standing fragile political, economic, and social structures. These structures have exacerbated marginalization, misallocation of resources, and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of narrow networks, resulting in a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe affecting the vast majority of the population.
The study aims to analyze the factors that perpetuate structural fragility in Yemen. It seeks to answer a central question: How have entrenched structures—such as elite dominance, stalled political transition, and the transformation of the economy into a war economy—exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and impeded state-building efforts?
Employing a comparative political economy approach, the study draws on historical and structural analysis to examine the relationship between state structures, the rentier economy, and the role of elites in reproducing fragility. It addresses six main themes across three temporal phases—pre-2011, the transitional period, and the post-war outbreak phase—to trace the evolution of fragility and its transformation into a complex crisis.
The findings reveal that state fragility in Yemen is the product of an intricate interplay between political and economic dynamics. Key drivers of collapse include the rentier economy, the failed political transition, and the emergence of a fragmented war economy. Rival factions have strengthened their influence by capturing state resources, thereby deepening fragmentation and undermining livelihoods. This situation has led to the collapse of public services and the worsening of the humanitarian crisis, while international aid has become a new form of rent that fuels division rather than supporting unified state institutions. Collectively, these dynamics sustain a condition of neither peace nor war and perpetuate the logic of state fragility.

This study aims to examine the impact of populist political discourse on democratic values in European Union countries, with Italy as a focused case study. It proceeds from the hypothesis that populist discourses vary between trends that support democracy—through direct democracy and popular sovereignty—and those that undermine it by rejecting pluralism and elites. The research attributes the rise of populist parties to intertwined economic factors, notably globalization and its related crises. Methodologically, it combines a historical approach to trace the development of political populism and its ties to democratic systems, a descriptive-analytical method to explore the content and implications of populist discourse in Italy, and a case study approach centering on Italy. The findings highlight deep political and social shifts in Italy, marked by increased polarization and declining trust in traditional institutions, leading to an erosion of democratic values and a reduction of politics to a binary of elites versus the people, thereby weakening intermediary institutions like parties, parliaments, and the judiciary.

This study examines the impact of security alliances on reshaping conflict dynamics in the Arabian Gulf after 2003, given the region’s geostrategic importance as a vital energy corridor and a crossroads between three continents. Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Gulf states strengthened their security partnerships with the United States through military expansion, armament, and intelligence cooperation in response to regional shifts and the growing role of actors such as Iran.
The study explores how these alliances shifted from tools of containment to drivers of geopolitical polarization and conflict, particularly after 2011, with the rise of hybrid security coalitions involving both states and non-state actors in Yemen and Syria. These dynamics intensified proxy wars and deepened regional divisions, especially among Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Turkey, amid U.S. retrenchment and greater involvement of Iran and Turkey.
The research problem lies in the contradiction between the declared goal of achieving stability and the actual effect of fueling crises. It argues that these alliances emerged as ad hoc responses to shifting threats, lacking a clear strategic vision, thus becoming instruments for internationalizing conflicts and reinforcing polarization. Using a descriptive-analytical and historical approach, the findings show that these alliances have deepened divisions within the GCC, accelerated proxy wars, and facilitated regional and international intervention in reshaping power balances, underscoring the need for a fundamental reassessment of regional security foundations.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the foundational pillars driving transformative change across multiple domains, particularly in the field of security. With the growing complexity of security threats, it has become essential to adopt advanced technologies that strengthen security capabilities. AI contributes to big data analysis, crime prediction, and monitoring suspicious activities, enabling security agencies to make swift and accurate decisions. Rapid advancements in AI have allowed security forces to manage vast datasets more efficiently, helping them detect information related to criminal activities or breaches of public order.
Within the European Union, escalating security threats have led to the adoption of AI-driven strategies, including initiatives that have enhanced surveillance systems and introduced intelligent solutions for addressing risks and maintaining stability. This research highlights the central question of how AI can enhance the capacity of security agencies and how it can be integrated into existing systems to counter such threats. The study employs both an analytical approach to examine the phenomenon of security threats and an empirical approach to track the development of AI technologies in this field.
The study concludes that AI represents a pivotal tool for redefining security policies, yet it cannot fully replace the human element; rather, it must complement human expertise in a balanced way. Moreover, the study demonstrates that countries investing in AI-based security technologies will be better positioned to confront evolving threats, while less advanced states may face growing vulnerabilities. This underscores the importance of AI as a strategic choice for achieving more sustainable security.

The concept of distributive capacity refers to the state’s ability to achieve justice in the distribution of benefits, services, wealth, and employment opportunities among members of society in an equitable and non-discriminatory manner. These capacities represent both a means and an end for contemporary political systems seeking to consolidate the principle of fair resource distribution and to utilize them efficiently in pursuit of comprehensive and sustainable development.
This research aims to analyze the challenges and factors that hinder the construction of effective distributive capacities in Iraq after 2006, and the resulting developmental crisis that has affected the fairness of resource and opportunity distribution. The study’s central problem stems from the assumption that Iraq suffers from the mismanagement of its distributive capacities due to a set of structural challenges of political, economic, and social dimensions.
To address this problem comprehensively, the research adopts a quantitative analytical approach that combines theoretical analysis with the use of statistical data, figures, and illustrative tables to measure patterns of distributive imbalance. Numerical indicators related to public expenditure, service distribution, resources, and employment opportunities across various sectors were analyzed to identify the structural trends shaping the state’s distributive performance.
The study concludes that political challenges, represented by partisan quota systems and conflicts over relevant legislation, alongside the phenomenon of terrorism, have weakened fairness in the allocation of financial resources and public services. Economic challenges have further exacerbated the imbalance in government spending across sectors, while social challenges have limited the effectiveness of mechanisms for equitable distribution. Altogether, these factors have reduced the efficiency of Iraq’s distributive capacities and negatively affected both development and social justice.

Identity is a crucial factor shaping the orientations of states at multiple levels. It determines their role in domestic affairs and sets their trajectory in foreign policy, establishing priorities that can become grounds for either cooperation or divergence among states. This study focuses on China and India, two countries founded upon distinct identities that rest on different ideological underpinnings and directions.
The research explores the role, concept, and definitions of identity, beginning with a central research question: Has the national identity of China and India influenced the competition between the two countries and driven them toward conflict? To answer this question, the study proposes a hypothesis that reflects a direct relationship between identity and conflict: the greater the tangible and intangible components of identity that lean toward expansion and regional leadership, the more competitive the foreign policies of the two countries become.
The study employs inductive, comparative, and constructivist approaches to analyze identity. The study concludes that the distinct national identities of China and India have reinforced their competitive foreign policies, fueling rivalry and potential conflict despite mutual economic interests that encourage cooperation.

The study examines the impact of modern technological developments on international relations and the emergence of the concept of digital diplomacy, which has become a growing trend in an era defined by speed and online communication. This form of diplomacy has enabled states and international organizations to utilize technology to enhance communication processes and build international relations. It represents a major shift in global interaction, facilitating the exchange of political views and positions and the management of international crises.
The research problem focuses on the evolution and influence of digital diplomacy and the ways in which its tools are employed within foreign policy. The United Arab Emirates is adopted as a case study to explore this impact. Methodologically, the study employs a descriptive–analytical approach to examine the role and significance of digital diplomacy in achieving foreign policy objectives, alongside a case study approach to contextualize the Emirati experience as a framework for understanding digital diplomacy in practice.
The findings reveal that digital diplomacy has brought about a fundamental transformation in the management of international interaction by providing innovative and effective tools to enhance states’ status and influence at both regional and global levels. Accordingly, countries, including the United Arab Emirates, are developing strategies to strengthen their digital diplomatic capacities.

Following the imposition of extensive waves of sanctions by the United States and its allies against Russia in the wake of the Russian–Ukrainian crisis—particularly after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequently upon the launch of its military operation in Ukraine on 24 February 2022—Russia adopted a range of measures and policies to adapt to these sanctions and, to a considerable extent, succeeded in mitigating their effects. Conversely, these sanctions failed to alter Russia’s position on the war or its behavior toward Ukraine.
The central research problem lies in analyzing the extent to which Russia’s experience can serve as a model for Global South countries in confronting U.S. and Western sanctions. The study also seeks to examine whether the repeated use of this instrument may ultimately erode its effectiveness as a tool of strategic pressure.
The study concludes that Moscow established strategic pathways in its response to sanctions that Global South states could adopt should they face similar economic sanctions from the United States and the West. This, in turn, may contribute to weakening the power and effectiveness of sanctions as a coercive instrument. The study employed a critical approach within the field of International Political Economy to analyze the Russian–Ukrainian crisis and its wider implications.