Published papers

特集1: 中東から変わる世界 (第II部:「アラブの春」に見る軍・宗教・メディア--地域間比較から)

The results of the PLC (Palestinian Legislative Council) election in January 2006 surprised international society with the ascension of Hamas as the ruling party. It was the first national election that Hamas officially participated in, but it succeeded in attracting votes as an alternative to Fatah—the dominant party of the PLO since the liberation movement began. The rise to power of Hamas made Israel, the EU and the United States anxious about its foreign policy, and compelled them to impose severe economic sanctions on the new government. As a result, the inauguration of the new government changed the geo-political map of the region. This article focuses on this change, and investigates the relationship between the governmental change and its new foreign policy. Special attention is paid to Hamas as an Islamic party and its response to national and international politics. How has its ascension affected the relationship between it as a governing party and international society? What kind of foreign policy does the Islamic party envision for the future of the conflict with Israel? What has been the impact of the international reaction on internal politics? These questions will be answered in this paper. The first section deals with the results of the PLC election and clarifies the reasons for Hamas's success in 2006. Several factors are pointed to as contributing to this, including its grassroots support, the rivalry with Fatah, and Fatah's failure in its electoral strategy. The second section illustrates the reaction by international society to the ascension of the Hamas as an Islamic party. The conditions presented to it by Israel and the Quartet for the lifting of sanctions are detailed. In comparison to these conditions, Hamas's position on conflict resolution and negotiation is studied by analyzing its charter and statements. In addition, its concept for peace talks—cease fire—is investigated. The last section discusses the diplomacy of the Hamas government after the economic sanctions were imposed. The support from Russia and Iran, and its limits, and the changed regional geopolitics are explained. In reflecting on the diplomatic situation, the attempt at reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, and its institutional disturbance is also investigated in this section. The rise of Islamic parties has become a commonplace phenomenon in the contemporary Middle East. The case of Hamas can be evaluated as a precedent for this, and the analysis of the logic, the interaction with internal politics, and the influence of international society should be investigated as a significant historical reference point. The study will suggest possible courses of action in diplomacy.