أثر القيادة الدبلوماسية في إدارة الأزمات لدى المؤسسات الحكومية في محافظة بيت لحم

Salah Sabri; Arwa Mousa

doi:10.64190/abj.2026.22

Salah Sabri ⁽¹⁾ , Arwa Mousa ⁽¹⁾

(1) Al-Quds Open University, Palestine, State of

https://doi.org/10.64190/abj.2026.22

Issue
Vol. 1 (2026): Early View - 2026

Submitted
January 9, 2026

Accepted
March 5, 2026

Published
March 9, 2026

Keywords:

القيادة الدبلوماسية, إدارة الأزمات

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Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of diplomatic leadership-across its dimensions of culture development, cooperation, communication and clarity, and shared purpose-on crisis management, encompassing crisis detection, crisis preparedness, crisis containment, recovery and restoration of balance, and learning from crises, in government institutions in Bethlehem Governorate, Palestine.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a correlational descriptive approach, employing a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The study population comprised all 4,730 administrative employees at the lower and middle managerial levels in Palestinian government institutions in Bethlehem Governorate, from which 355 valid responses were retrieved for analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) and simple linear regression analysis.
Findings: The results indicated a high level of diplomatic leadership practice, with a mean of 3.528 and a relative weight of 70.6%, while the level of crisis management was moderate, with a mean of 3.278 and a relative weight of 65.6%. Regression analysis revealed a statistically significant impact (α ≤ 0.05) of diplomatic leadership on all dimensions of crisis management, with adjusted coefficients of determination ranging from 0.513 for crisis containment to 0.736 for crisis detection, confirming the strong explanatory power of the model.
Originality/Value: This study is among the first to investigate diplomatic leadership in the context of crisis management within the Palestinian public sector-an environment characterized by political and economic instability-thereby offering contextual specificity that enriches the underexplored Arabic-language literature in this field.
Practical Implications: The findings suggest that decision-makers in Palestinian government institutions should adopt leadership development programs focused on enhancing diplomatic leadership dimensions, establishing early warning systems for crises, and fostering an institutional culture of learning from past crises.

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References

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Authors

Salah Sabri

Al-Quds Open University, Palestine, State of

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6001-3001

ssabri@qou.edu (Primary Contact)

Arwa Mousa

Al-Quds Open University, Palestine, State of

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6915-5342

Author Biographies

Salah Sabri, Al-Quds Open University

Dr. Salah Sabri is an Associate Professor of Public Administration and Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at Al-Quds Open University, Ramallah, Palestine. He holds a PhD in Public Administration. His research interests focus on public administration.
Institutional Affiliation: Department of Public Administration, Al-Quds Open University, Ramallah, Palestine.
Email: ssabri@qou.edu
ORCID: 0000-0002-6001-3001

Arwa Mousa, Al-Quds Open University

Arwa Mousa is a graduate studies researcher at Al-Quds Open University, Palestine. She holds a Master's degree in Administrative and Economic Sciences, specializing in Public Administration and Public Policy.
Institutional Affiliation: Department of Public Administration, Al-Quds Open University, Ramallah, Palestine.
Email: hamamraarwa038@gmail.com
ORCID: 0009-0003-6915-5342

Sabri, S., & Mousa, A. (2026). The Impact of Diplomatic Leadership on Crisis Management in Government Institutions in Bethlehem Governorate. Arado Business Journal, 1, 19–40. https://doi.org/10.64190/abj.2026.22

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Introduction

Leadership is considered one of the fundamental pillars upon which the effectiveness of work in organizations rests, particularly during times of crisis that require wise intervention. Especially in light of the rapid transformations the world is witnessing, the need has emerged for leadership styles characterized by flexibility and the ability to contain complex challenges, such as diplomatic leadership.

Diplomatic leadership requires demonstrating a direction that enhances individuals’ ability to work in a spirit of cooperation and harmony to achieve shared objectives, such as promoting peace or mutual understanding among nations. The effectiveness of diplomatic leadership depends largely on the ability of individuals to perform their roles efficiently and successfully in achieving desired goals (Govand, 2021). Diplomatic leadership refers to the ability to employ diplomatic principles in managing individuals and organizations in a manner that achieves balance among different interests and promotes cooperation in complex environments. It can be regarded as a multidimensional approach encompassing science, art, law, history, and professionalism (Abu Amer, 2020).

Dawooda (2023) identified the dimensions of diplomatic leadership as: culture development, openness, cooperation, communication and clarity, and shared purpose. Certain studies have identified additional equally relevant attributes associated with diplomatic leadership, namely: centering, candor, consistency, and curiosity (Prestia, 2017).

Diplomatic leadership is also associated with a high level of commitment, which includes setting personal interests aside and assuming responsibility. Contrary to the traditional perception, diplomats can demonstrate significant leadership capabilities by prioritizing higher objectives and learning lessons from their mistakes (Feldman, 2022).

The role of leadership in crisis management is considered central to mitigating and containing the impact of crises. The crisis management process has been divided into two phases: the first is the immediate reactive response, in which the crisis is confronted and addressed urgently; the second is the phase of treatment and reputation rebuilding, which focuses on restoring trust and improving the image after the crisis (Saleem, 2023; Hallaq, 2020). It is also evident that the level of responsibility varies depending on the type of crisis; in cases of crises resulting from natural disasters or unintentional incidents, responsibility is limited, whereas it increases in cases of human error or poor performance. In all phases of a crisis, it is important that relevant parties and stakeholders participate in the decision-making process (Al-Shamsi, 2021).

As for the term “crisis management,” it first appeared in international political relations during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, which erupted between the United States and the Soviet Union. The crisis began when the Soviet Union deployed ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads in Cuba, in response to Cuban President Fidel Castro’s request to protect his country from a potential American invasion. The United States considered this move a direct threat to its national security, which prompted it to decide to invade Cuba. However, diplomatic intervention between the two parties led to a peaceful resolution of the crisis. After the crisis ended, the U.S. Secretary of Defense at the time declared: “A new era has begun, one that shall be called the era of crisis management” (Mustafa, 2024).

Palestinian government institutions, like other institutions in countries experiencing complex political and economic challenges, face multiple crises that require effective leadership strategies to address them. Given the role that diplomatic leadership plays in determining how these crises are managed and how interaction with various parties—whether international or local—takes place, despite the difficult conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation and internal division, Palestinian leaders need to use their diplomatic skills to guide government institutions toward making well-considered strategic decisions that enhance stability and alleviate the severity of crises. From this standpoint, this study seeks to examine the impact of diplomatic leadership on crisis management in government institutions in Palestine.

Conceptual Framework and Literature Review

The study addresses various concepts, some of which are newly introduced in the administrative sciences. Therefore, the study examined the most important of these concepts as follows:

Diplomacy

A term originally derived from the Latin word “DIPLOMA,” meaning “the official document,” which is in turn derived from the Greek language, meaning “the folded document” that grants its holders special privileges by authorization of the authority. The Romans used folded and sealed documents for this purpose. Over time, the concept of “diploma” expanded to include official documents, papers, and treaties, which necessitated the appointment of officials to manage these documents and oversee correspondence. Thus, the term “diplomacy” remained associated with this meaning and transitioned from Greek to Latin, then to European languages, and finally to the Arabic language (Al-Saba’neh, 2022).

Operational definition:The ability to use communication and negotiation skills, along with peaceful and persuasive methods, by leaders in Palestinian government institutions during crises, with the aim of enhancing cooperation among relevant parties, whether internal or external, through strategies directed at conflict resolution, reducing tensions, and formulating consensual solutions that ensure the continuity of government institution operations and mitigate the repercussions of the crisis.

Diplomatic Leadership

The employment of the art and science of diplomacy within the leadership context inside business organizations, with the aim of mobilizing energies and efforts to execute required tasks and achieve satisfactory settlements during crises based on mutual understanding and satisfaction. This includes the use of “the possible” through a set of means and rules, while avoiding autocracy and seeking innovative solutions that combine concern for individuals with reaching satisfactory settlements for all parties involved in the conflict (Dawooda, 2023).

Operational definition:A set of methods and

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The Impact of Diplomatic Leadership on Crisis Management in Government Institutions in Bethlehem Governorate

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Salah Sabri, Al-Quds Open University

Arwa Mousa, Al-Quds Open University

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