Research Design and Methods

To achieve these objectives, the research team will first analyze quantitative and qualitative data to gauge the values for the three indicators selected to detect the periods of shifting IST engagement in Africa: diplomatic activities; endeavors in selected policy areas, including security, economic, cultural, and aid relations; and, security strategies related to Africa. Based on the so-established periodization, we will then analyze the reasons and conditions for any increased IST engagement. We will do so by focusing on two periods of heightened engagement in one African subregion for each IST state, including three years preceding and three years succeeding the respective time periods. Using the method of structured, focused comparison in combination with process tracing, we will contrast the periods of heightened IST engagement within and between cases. Importantly, this comparative analysis will be conducted along, and geared toward assessing, three sets of assumptions derived from the theoretical literature, and conveniently grouped into three categories: domestic, systemic, and status factors driving middle-power engagement. Toward the end of the project, these assumptions—whose explanatory power will have been tested and revised over the course of this exploratory study—will be further systemized and made applicable to other cases elsewhere.

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Explaining Middle-Power Engagement in External Regions: A Comparison of Iranian, Saudi, and Turkish Sub-Saharan Africa Policies

Explaining Middle-Power Engagement in External Regions: A Comparison of Iranian, Saudi, and Turkish Sub-Saharan Africa Policies

By means of a comparative historical analysis of Iranian, Saudi-Arabian, and Turkish engagement in Africa following the continent’s decolonization processes and running up until 2020, this project seeks to make sense of middle-power engagement in external regions. First, the project will identify the periods of shifting IST engagement in Africa. Second, it will analyze the reasons why, and the conditions under which, IST have stepped up—or reduced—their foreign policy efforts in Africa. Third, it will develop mid-range generalizations on middle-power engagement in external regions.
DFG, 2022-2025

Team

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Head

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Research Questions

By means of a comparative historical analysis of IST engagement in sub-Saharan Africa following the continent’s decolonization processes after World War II and running up until the end of 2020, this project seeks to make sense of middle-power engagement in external regions. It focuses on three objectives to this end: First, the project will identify—and define—the periods of shifting IST engagement in Africa in the chosen era. Second, it will analyze the reasons why, and the conditions under which, IST have stepped up—or reduced—their foreign policy efforts in Africa. Third and finally, it will develop mid-range generalizations on middle-power engagement in external regions, ones which can subsequently be applied to cases elsewhere.

Contribution to International Research

Why do middle powers engage in external regions? Although regions have become defining elements of international politics, and despite middle powers now being considered key actors in today’s multipolar international system, extant theoretical studies on middle powers offer only limited and inconsistent answers as to why they embark on comprehensive strategic foreign policies toward a given external region or, contrariwise, choose to significantly downgrade their foreign policy endeavors. There is thus a notable research gap on a topic that has gained greatly in importance of late, and one that comes with significant real-world implications.

GIGA Focus Nahost | 1/2026

Ten Things to Watch in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026

Europe plays a limited role in Gulf investments and the geopolitical considerations behind them. International mediation is urgently required in Gaza and Sudan. Lebanon and Syria are threatened by fragmentation. We present ten things set to inform events in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026.

Dima Abu Alkheir

Hager Ali

Dr. André Bank

Ardahan Özkan Gedikli

Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz

GIGA Focus Nahost | 2/2025

Ten Things to Watch in the Middle East and North Africa in 2025

From the Gaza War and ethnic conflicts in Lebanon and Syria to the significance of a second Trump administration for the region, the MENA remains of central importance for Europe. We present ten topics that will play a prominent role in relations between the two regions in the year ahead.

Diba Mirzaei

Doctoral Researcher

Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz

Director of the GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies / Editor GIGA Focus Middle East

Chapter in Edited Volume | 2025

Geopolitische Konflikte III: Afrika

Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick zum golfarabischen Engagement in Afrika südlich der Sahara seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg und thematisiert unter anderem die Interessen der Staaten des Golfkooperationsrates sowie sicherheitspolitische Folgen für die internationalen Beziehungen Afrikas.

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Chapter in Edited Volume | 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Ambivalent Stance on the Russia-Ukraine War: Balancing Regime Stability and Equal Sovereignty

This article examines Saudi Arabia’s complex positioning in the Russia-Ukraine war, considering its adherence to the norm of equal sovereignty alongside its foreign-policy determinants. Outwardly supporting Ukraine’s right to sovereignty its continued cooperation with Russia paints a different picture.

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Dr. Luíza Cerioli

University of Kassel

Chapter in Edited Volume | 2025

The Domestic-International Nexus of Authoritarian Public Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia in Focus

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has disrupted traditional sources of regime legitimacy, reshaping its public diplomacy. This case study explores how the Kingdom promotes “the new Saudi Arabia” to attract global investment while rallying domestic support, balancing external credibility and internal stability.

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Team

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Head

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Research Questions

Contribution to International Research

GIGA Focus Nahost | 1/2026

Ten Things to Watch in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026

Dima Abu Alkheir

Hager Ali

Dr. André Bank

Ardahan Özkan Gedikli

Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz

GIGA Focus Nahost | 2/2025

Ten Things to Watch in the Middle East and North Africa in 2025

Diba Mirzaei

Doctoral Researcher

Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz

Director of the GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies / Editor GIGA Focus Middle East

Chapter in Edited Volume | 2025

Geopolitische Konflikte III: Afrika

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Chapter in Edited Volume | 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Ambivalent Stance on the Russia-Ukraine War: Balancing Regime Stability and Equal Sovereignty

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Dr. Luíza Cerioli

University of Kassel

Chapter in Edited Volume | 2025

The Domestic-International Nexus of Authoritarian Public Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia in Focus

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Research Design and Methods

Workshop | 03/07/2024 - 05/07/2024

Populist Rebordering: Geopolitical Imagination in Turkey's Africa Policy under the AKP

EWIS 2024: 11th European Workshops in International Studies, Istanbul Organisers: European International Studies Association Mira Demirdirek (Speaker), Hamid Talebian (Speaker)

Paper presented in the workshop "Populist Geopolitics? Rethinking (Geo)Political Space through the Lens of Populism"

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Radio France Internationale (RFI) | Interview | 27/01/2024

La visite du Premier ministre du Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, en Iran: surmonter les sanctions et chercher des alliés

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Le Monde Afrique | Interview | 09/01/2024

Au Sahel, l’Iran en pleine offensive diplomatique

Hamid Talebian explains that recent Iranian outreach to the Sahel is driven by building anti-Western alliances with countries that are increasingly moving away from the 'West'.

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 11/07/2023 - 13/07/2023

Iran-Israel’s Rivalry in the Red Sea: Spill Over of the Mediterranean Proxy War?

Gulf Research Meeting 2023, Cambridge University, Cambridge Organisers: Gulf Research Centre Cambridge Hamid Talebian (Speaker), Dr. Sara Bazoobandi (Speaker)

Presentation of a draft paper by Dr. Sara Bazoobandi and Hamid Talebian at the annual Gulf Research Meeting conference.

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

Associate

Conference | 21/09/2023 - 23/09/2023

29th International DAVO Congress

29th International DAVO Congress, Universität Wien, Vienna Organisers: German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)

Organisation and Chair of Panel "Transregional (in)securities: Past and present security narratives in and on the Middle East"

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW, Zeppelin Universität, Friedrichshafen Organisers: Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen", DVPW Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)

The panel addresses the panoply of dominant strategies employed by middle powers from the Global South to gain influence with actors, or groups of actors, in external regions and hence a key development in contemporary international relations.

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Cooperation Event | 03/05/2023 - 05/07/2023

Die Außenpolitik der Türkei

100 Jahre Republik Türkei: Eine aktuelle Bilanz, Asien-Afrika-Institut, Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Flügel Ost, Hamburg Organisers: TürkeiEuropaZentrum, University of Hamburg, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Hamburg Mira Demirdirek (Speaker)

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

Turkey and Iran in Africa: Invigorated Geopolitical Visions in the Face of the Russian War against Ukraine

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion „Internationale Beziehungen“ der PVPW, Friedrichshafen Organisers: German Political Science Association, Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen", DVPW Mira Demirdirek (Speaker), Hamid Talebian (Speaker)

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Workshop | 03/07/2024 - 05/07/2024

Populist Rebordering: Geopolitical Imagination in Turkey's Africa Policy under the AKP

EWIS 2024: 11th European Workshops in International Studies, Istanbul Organisers: European International Studies Association Mira Demirdirek (Speaker), Hamid Talebian (Speaker)

Paper presented in the workshop "Populist Geopolitics? Rethinking (Geo)Political Space through the Lens of Populism"

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 11/07/2023 - 13/07/2023

Iran-Israel’s Rivalry in the Red Sea: Spill Over of the Mediterranean Proxy War?

Gulf Research Meeting 2023, Cambridge University, Cambridge Organisers: Gulf Research Centre Cambridge Hamid Talebian (Speaker), Dr. Sara Bazoobandi (Speaker)

Presentation of a draft paper by Dr. Sara Bazoobandi and Hamid Talebian at the annual Gulf Research Meeting conference.

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

Associate

Conference | 21/09/2023 - 23/09/2023

29th International DAVO Congress

29th International DAVO Congress, Universität Wien, Vienna Organisers: German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)

Organisation and Chair of Panel "Transregional (in)securities: Past and present security narratives in and on the Middle East"

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW, Zeppelin Universität, Friedrichshafen Organisers: Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen", DVPW Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Cooperation Event | 03/05/2023 - 05/07/2023

Die Außenpolitik der Türkei

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

Turkey and Iran in Africa: Invigorated Geopolitical Visions in the Face of the Russian War against Ukraine

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Workshop | 03/07/2024 - 05/07/2024

Populist Rebordering: Geopolitical Imagination in Turkey's Africa Policy under the AKP

EWIS 2024: 11th European Workshops in International Studies, Istanbul Organisers: European International Studies Association Mira Demirdirek (Speaker), Hamid Talebian (Speaker)

Paper presented in the workshop "Populist Geopolitics? Rethinking (Geo)Political Space through the Lens of Populism"

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Radio France Internationale (RFI) | Interview | 27/01/2024

La visite du Premier ministre du Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, en Iran: surmonter les sanctions et chercher des alliés

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Le Monde Afrique | Interview | 09/01/2024

Au Sahel, l’Iran en pleine offensive diplomatique

Hamid Talebian explains that recent Iranian outreach to the Sahel is driven by building anti-Western alliances with countries that are increasingly moving away from the 'West'.

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 11/07/2023 - 13/07/2023

Iran-Israel’s Rivalry in the Red Sea: Spill Over of the Mediterranean Proxy War?

Gulf Research Meeting 2023, Cambridge University, Cambridge Organisers: Gulf Research Centre Cambridge Hamid Talebian (Speaker), Dr. Sara Bazoobandi (Speaker)

Presentation of a draft paper by Dr. Sara Bazoobandi and Hamid Talebian at the annual Gulf Research Meeting conference.

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

Associate

Conference | 21/09/2023 - 23/09/2023

29th International DAVO Congress

29th International DAVO Congress, Universität Wien, Vienna Organisers: German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)

Organisation and Chair of Panel "Transregional (in)securities: Past and present security narratives in and on the Middle East"

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW, Zeppelin Universität, Friedrichshafen Organisers: Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen", DVPW Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Cooperation Event | 03/05/2023 - 05/07/2023

Die Außenpolitik der Türkei

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

Turkey and Iran in Africa: Invigorated Geopolitical Visions in the Face of the Russian War against Ukraine

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Workshop | 03/07/2024 - 05/07/2024

Populist Rebordering: Geopolitical Imagination in Turkey's Africa Policy under the AKP

EWIS 2024: 11th European Workshops in International Studies, Istanbul Organisers: European International Studies Association Mira Demirdirek (Speaker), Hamid Talebian (Speaker)

Paper presented in the workshop "Populist Geopolitics? Rethinking (Geo)Political Space through the Lens of Populism"

Mira Demirdirek

Doctoral Researcher

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 11/07/2023 - 13/07/2023

Iran-Israel’s Rivalry in the Red Sea: Spill Over of the Mediterranean Proxy War?

Gulf Research Meeting 2023, Cambridge University, Cambridge Organisers: Gulf Research Centre Cambridge Hamid Talebian (Speaker), Dr. Sara Bazoobandi (Speaker)

Presentation of a draft paper by Dr. Sara Bazoobandi and Hamid Talebian at the annual Gulf Research Meeting conference.

Hamid Talebian

Doctoral Researcher

Dr. Sara Bazoobandi

Associate

Conference | 21/09/2023 - 23/09/2023

29th International DAVO Congress

29th International DAVO Congress, Universität Wien, Vienna Organisers: German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)

Organisation and Chair of Panel "Transregional (in)securities: Past and present security narratives in and on the Middle East"

Dr. Jens Heibach

Research Fellow

Conference | 14/06/2023 - 16/06/2023

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW

Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen" der DVPW, Zeppelin Universität, Friedrichshafen Organisers: Sektion "Internationale Beziehungen", DVPW Dr. Jens Heibach (Panelist)