The Gaza War 2014. Hamas' Response towards Israel in Times of Cold Peace

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Theoretical Framework

2.1. Theoretical assumptions of Neorealism

2.1.1 Anarchic structure in the international system by Waltz

2.1.2 Consequent goals and behavior of states in defensive Neorealism

2.1.3 Core assumptions of offensive Neorealism according to Mearsheimer

2.1.4 Neorealism hypothesis and operational approach

2.2 Theoretical assumptions of Republican liberalism according to Moravcsik

2.2.1 Assumptions of Liberalism as a basis

2.2.2 Political representation in Republican liberalism

2.2.3 Republican liberalism hypothesis and operational approach

3. Hamas´ provocation towards Israel in the last Gaza War

3.1 Security threat analysis for testing Neorealism hypothesis

3.1.1 Situation in Gaza Strip and the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead

3.1.2 Analysis on the latest Gaza War and its aftermath

3.2 Analysis of inner political tensions for testing Republican liberalism hypothesis

3.2.1 Establishment of Hamas and its primary goals and interests

3.2.2 Hamas´rise from unpopularity to elected party

3.2.3 The conflict between Hamas and its major rival Fatah

4. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

The primary objective of this thesis is to explain the underlying motives for Hamas's provocative rocket attacks against Israel during the 2014 Gaza War. The research critically assesses whether these actions can be explained through the neorealistic paradigm of state security and survival, or whether they are more accurately understood through the lens of Republican liberalism, which emphasizes inner-political pressures, domestic competition for power, and the need to maintain political dominance.

• Comparative analysis of Neorealism and Republican liberalism theories.
• Investigation into the impact of historical conflicts like Operation Cast Lead on security.
• Analysis of Hamas's political trajectory, from an unpopular group to an elected quasi-government.
• Evaluation of the internal competition for power between Hamas and Fatah.
• Assessment of the role of provocation as a tool for regaining domestic political support.

Extract from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Presents the background of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and introduces the core research question regarding the motivations behind Hamas's 2014 rocket attacks.

2. Theoretical Framework: Outlines the theoretical foundations of Neorealism and Republican liberalism to establish the analytical tools for the study.

3. Hamas´ provocation towards Israel in the last Gaza War: Tests the two competing theories against empirical evidence, analyzing security threats and internal political dynamics.

4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, concluding that Republican liberalism provides a more comprehensive explanation for Hamas's behavior than Neorealism.

Keywords

Gaza War 2014, Hamas, Israel, Neorealism, Republican liberalism, Security dilemma, Political representation, Fatah, Operation Cast Lead, Internal political tension, Power struggle, Conflict analysis, Rationality, Quasi-state, Popularity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The research focuses on explaining the motivations behind the aggressive rocket attacks launched by Hamas against Israel during the 2014 Gaza War.

Which theoretical frameworks are applied in this work?

The study applies two major international relations theories: Neorealism (Waltz/Mearsheimer) and Republican liberalism (Moravcsik).

What is the main research question?

The research asks how the provocative attacks against Israel by Hamas in the last Gaza War can be explained.

Which scientific method is utilized?

The author uses a deductive method, deriving hypotheses from the two theories and then testing them against the historical and empirical evidence of the conflict.

What topics are discussed in the main section?

The main section covers the security threats faced by Gaza, the history of Hamas, its rise to power, and the ongoing power struggle between Hamas and Fatah.

Which keywords best characterize this thesis?

Keywords include Gaza War, Hamas, Neorealism, Republican liberalism, security, power struggle, Fatah, and political legitimacy.

Why did the Neorealist explanation fail to fully account for Hamas's behavior?

The analysis shows that the Neorealist assumption of rational actors seeking security is challenged by the fact that Hamas's aggressive actions actually worsened the security situation in the Gaza Strip.

What is the role of the Fatah-Hamas conflict in the author's argument?

The internal conflict is central to the Republican liberalist explanation, as it provides evidence that Hamas's provocations are linked to maintaining internal popularity and preventing political rivals from seizing power.

How does the author define the political status of the Gaza Strip?

The author characterizes the Gaza Strip as a "quasi-state" due to the lack of international recognition of Hamas, despite its role as the de facto government.

What is the final conclusion regarding the theories?

The author concludes that while Neorealism explains the existential security context, Republican liberalism offers a superior, more nuanced explanation for the specific timing and nature of Hamas's provocations.