The Decision Calculus of Khaled Mashal

Abstract

This chapter offers an analysis of the decision code of Khaled Mashal, the former leader of the Hamas organization. Using the Applied Decision Analysis (ADA) method, it examines five decisions made by Mashal in 2011–2017. The analysis suggests that Mashal tends to use mainly the poliheuristic decision rule in these decisions, and considers the political-organizational dimension of Hamas as non-compensatory. Thus, Mashal made these decisions by first eliminating any alternative which risked his organization’s political status, and only then he rationally chose the alternative with the greatest expected utility from the remaining ones.

Citation

Friedman, L., Samban, Y., Chatagnier, J.T. and Mintz, A. (2019), "The Decision Calculus of Khaled Mashal", How Do Leaders Make Decisions? (Contributions to Conflict Management, Peace Economics and Development, Vol. 28B), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 77-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1572-83232019000028B017