Abstract:
This study examines how the personal ideologies of state leaders influence the dynamics of international conflicts. Drawing on the operational code analysis framework, it analyses how leaders' fundamental beliefs about the nature of international politics, the role of conflict, and the efficacy of different strategies shape their perceptions of threats, willingness to take risks, and approach to managing international disputes. The study utilizes three case studies - the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 2023 Israeli-Gaza conflict, and the Camp David Accords - to demonstrate how leaders' personal ideologies and decision-making principles have been pivotal in sparking, exacerbating, and resolving international conflicts. The study employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing the documentary method to collect data from secondary sources. By applying the operational code framework and related concepts from political psychology, the study highlights the significant impact that leader-level variables can have on the global landscape, beyond traditional systemic and structural explanations. The findings underscore the theoretical importance of incorporating leader-level factors into the study of international relations and provide valuable insights for scholars and policymakers seeking to understand the complex forces driving the outbreak, escalation, and resolution of global conflicts.
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