What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to quantitatively analyze the economic and diplomatic networks resulting from the Abraham Accords.

January 23, 2026Open Access

Network Structures of Regional Integration: A Quantitative Analysis of Economic and Diplomatic Networks in the Abraham Accords Framework (2020-2026)

Key Points

This research aims to quantitatively analyze the economic and diplomatic networks resulting from the Abraham Accords.
Employs social network analysis (SNA) to examine network evolution from 2019 to 2025.
Utilizes data from UN Comtrade, UNCTAD, GDELT, and government sources.
Constructs time-series network models to track structural changes in regional integration.
Bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE increased by 18,837% from 2019 to 2024.
Network density increased from 0.80 to 1.00, indicating a more interconnected network.
Israel's eigenvector centrality improved significantly, indicating a shift from a peripheral to a central position.

Abstract

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, represent a significant diplomatic realignment in the Middle East, establishing formal relations between Israel and four Arab nations: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. This dissertation employs social network analysis (SNA) to quantitatively examine the evolution of economic and diplomatic networks among Abraham Accords signatories from 2019 to 2025, addressing a critical gap in existing scholarship that has relied primarily on descriptive statistics and bilateral case studies. Utilizing data from UN Comtrade, UNCTAD, GDELT, and official government sources, this research constructs time-series network models to track the structural transformation of regional integration. The analysis reveals dramatic structural changes: bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE increased by 18,837% from 2019 to 2024, network density increased from 0.80 to 1.00, and Israel's eigenvector centrality transformed from 0.007 to 0.564, repositioning Israel from a peripheral to a central network position. The study tests hypotheses regarding network structure, centrality patterns, and network resilience following the October 2023 Gaza conflict, finding that economic ties demonstrated substantial structural resilience despite unprecedented regional tensions. This research makes three primary contributions: (1) the first comprehensive quantitative network analysis of a modern Middle Eastern normalization framework, (2) theoretical insights into the application of network theory to regional integration in conflict-prone regions, and (3) empirical evidence regarding the depth and sustainability of Abraham Accords integration. The findings have significant implications for understanding peace agreement durability, regional order transformation in the Middle East, and future normalization prospects, particularly regarding potential Saudi Arabian accession to the framework. Keywords: Abraham Accords, social network analysis, regional integration, Middle East diplomacy, trade networks

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