Turkish-Greek Relations - (Edinburgh Studies on Modern Turkey) by Cihan Dizdaroğ & lu

About the Book

Focuses broadly on the main issues of contention between Turkey and Greece, and analyses Turkey's policies towards Greece, based on the securitisation framework and focusing on the discourse of elites in the post-Cold War period.

Book Synopsis

The relationship with Greece has always been at the forefront in determining Turkish foreign policy. This book focuses broadly on the main issues of contention between Turkey and Greece, and analyses Turkey's policies towards Greece, based on the securitisation framework and focusing on the discourse of elites in the post-Cold War period. It inquires how, by whom and the extent to which Turkish foreign policy has securitised and de-securitised Greece.
Based on an extensive discourse analysis of statements from Turkish elites - including the president, prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, chief of general staff and the secretary general of the National Security Council - Cihan Dizdaroğlu presents a fresh and critical analysis of the foreign policy Turkey enacts regarding Greece. Considering the contemporary geopolitical issues such as competition over the Eastern Mediterranean, the ongoing deadlock in Cyprus, Turkey's involvement in Libya as well as the emergence of new tension in the Aegean Sea, Greek-Turkish relations will continue to be a critical subject of international relations.

Review Quotes

In this comprehensive study of the evolution of Turkish foreign policy towards Greece in the post-Cold War period, Dizdaroğlu exposes a cycle of securitisation and desecuritisation processes at play. Is securitisation of Greece the default state of Turkish foreign policy? Was the post-1999 rapprochement a temporary aberration? This book is a must read for all concerned about the current escalation of Greek-Turkish tensions.--Bahar Rumelili, Koç University, Istanbul

Looking at Greek-Turkish ties from the perspective of securitisation / desecuritisation, the book presents an up-to-date summary of one of the most intractable and multi-faceted conflictual relationships of recent history. This will be an indispensable companion for students, specialists and connoisseurs of international relations, conflict analysis and Greek and Turkish studies.--Mustafa Aydın, Kadir Has University, Istanbul and President, International Relations Council of Turkey

This book is a valuable contribution to the study of Greek-Turkish relations. It is pertinent to important academic and policy debates and appears at a very timely moment, as the two countries appear willing to put an end to a vicious circle of escalation.--Ioannis N. Grigoriadis, Bilkent University and ELIAMEP

This eloquently written study is a significant contribution to the understanding of the relations between contemporary Turkey and Greece relations. It is based on extensive discourse analysis of elites' statements, offering an important insight into scrutinise Turkey's policies towards Greece, based on the securitization framework. It also provides invaluable grassroots information on the role of domestic political transformation on the foreign policy decisions. A must read for students and scholars of modern Turkey-Greece relations and international relations.--Ahmet Erdi Ozturk, London Metropolitan University and ELIAMEP