The Relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• 2. THEORETICAL APPROACH I: LIBERALISM
• 2.1 IDEATIONAL LIBERALISM
• 2.2 OPERATIONALIZATION AND HYPOTHESIS – IDEATIONAL LIBERALISM
• 3. THEORETICAL APPROACH II: STRUCTURAL REALISM
• 3.1 DEFENSIVE STRUCTURAL REALISM
• 3.2 OPERATIONALIZATION AND HYPOTHESIS - STRUCTURAL REALISM
• 4. EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS I – IDEATIONAL LIBERALISM
• 4.1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
• 4.2 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• 4.3 UNITED STATES SENATE - COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
• 4.4 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
• 4.5 ORGANIZATIONS AND LOBBY GROUPS
• 5. EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS II – STRUCTURAL REALISM
• 5.1 IRAN
• 5.2 PALESTINE
• 5.3 SAUDI-ARABIA

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis aims to understand the reasons behind the relocation of the United States Embassy in 2017 from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. The thesis explores the deviation from the established precedent set by previous administrations, which had consistently deferred the implementation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. This analysis focuses on two main theoretical perspectives: ideational liberalism and defensive structural realism.

• The role of domestic policy preferences and their influence on foreign policy decisions.
• The potential for ideational liberalism to explain policy shifts in the context of US-Israel relations.
• The assessment of threats to US interests in the region and their potential impact on policy choices.
• The applicability of defensive structural realism in understanding the relocation of the embassy as a balancing move.
• The analysis of relevant actors within the US government and their roles in shaping foreign policy regarding Jerusalem.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Introduction introduces the topic of the United States embassy relocation and highlights the key research question: why was the embassy moved from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017? The chapter explores the historical context of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and the previous administrations' decisions to defer its implementation.
• Chapter 2: Theoretical Approach I: Liberalism examines the theoretical framework of ideational liberalism, focusing on its emphasis on domestic policy preferences and their influence on foreign policy. This chapter outlines the theoretical logic and relevant axioms of this approach, providing a detailed explanation of the operationalization of ideational liberalism and the hypothesis derived from this perspective.
• Chapter 3: Theoretical Approach II: Structural Realism analyzes the theoretical framework of defensive structural realism, emphasizing the potential for external threats to influence foreign policy decisions. This chapter discusses the core elements of this approach and its focus on balancing strategies. It then outlines the operationalization of defensive structural realism and presents the hypothesis stemming from this perspective.
• Chapter 4: Empirical Analysis I – Ideational Liberalism provides a detailed examination of the empirical cases through the lens of the ideational liberalism hypothesis. This chapter analyzes changes in personnel within relevant US government departments, examining subsequent policy changes and identifying their potential ideational preferences. Additionally, it explores the role of legislative committees on foreign relations and their interactions with pro-Israel groups.
• Chapter 5: Empirical Analysis II – Structural Realism explores potential threats to US interests in the region from the perspective of the defensive structural realism hypothesis. This chapter examines the behavior of specific countries, such as Iran, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, and assesses their potential to influence US policy regarding Jerusalem.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The research focuses on the relocation of the United States embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017. The main themes are: US foreign policy, Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, ideational liberalism, defensive structural realism, domestic policy preferences, threats to US interests, and the impact of key actors within the US government on foreign policy decisions.