Research Methods in Foreign Policy Analysis — Eldad Ben-Aharon

This episode of The IR thinker explores the field of foreign policy analysis with Dr Eldad Ben-Aharon, from core concepts and theories to contemporary methodological debates, including questions of Western-centrism, the role of non-state actors and the impact of technology and climate change on research agendas. The conversation then turns to two detailed case studies that illuminate the practice of elite interviewing in international relations: oral history work with Israeli elites and the methodological and ethical challenges of interviewing senior intelligence officials, including a former Mossad director.Eldad Ben-AharonDr Eldad Ben-Aharon is an IRC Post-Doctoral Fellow in International Security at Dublin City University and a researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. He received his PhD in History from Royal Holloway, University of London, and his work focuses on the international history of the Middle East during the Cold War through archival research, foreign policy analysis and elite interviews. His research has been published in journals such as the European Journal of International Security, Intelligence and National Security, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Oral History Review and Cold War History, and he has written for outlets including Newsweek, The Conversation, The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, The National Interest, Times of Israel and Globes.Publications:Political audience and non-linear securitisation: Revisiting Israel–Iran relations and the making of the 1979 Islamic RevolutionDoing Oral History with the Israeli Elite and the Question of Methodology in International Relations ResearchMethodological and epistemological reflections on elite interviews and the study of Israel’s intelligence history: interview with Efraim HalevyContent00:00 - Introduction02:14 - Defining Foreign Policy04:30 - Diplomacy vs. Policy06:09 - Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis08:55 - Theories and Frameworks10:52 - Western Centrism in Policy Analysis14:12 - Actors vs. Institutions16:26 - Trends in Methodology21:04 - Technology and Climate Change in Research24:45 - Theoretical Stance Importance26:32 - Case Study 1: Article Description30:04 - Case Study 1: Methods33:21 - Case Study 1: Challenges36:58 - Case Study 1: Tech Tools40:40 - Case Study 2: Intro & Methods46:36 - Case Study 2: Interviewing Mossad Director49:56 - Case Study 2: Handling Sensitivity54:37 - Case Study 2: Post-Interview Protocol57:25 - Eldad’s Research MotivationFollow & Further ResourcesSubstack: https://theirthinker.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ir-thinker/X: https://x.com/irthinker_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/irthinkerfb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.