This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. Turkey's involvement in the Gulf War in 1991 paved the way for the country's acceptance into the European Union. This book traces that process and in the first part looks at Turkey's foreign policy in the 1990s, considering the ability of the country to withstand the repercussions of the fall of communism. It focuses on Turkey's achievement in halting and minimising the effects of the temporary devaluation in its strategic importance that resulted from the waning of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the skilful way in which Turkey avoided becoming embroiled in the ethnic upheavals in Central Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East, and the development of a continued policy of closer integration into the European and western worlds. Internal politics are the focus of the second part of the book, addressing the curbing of the Kurdish revolt, the economic gains made, and the strengthening of civil society. Nachmani goes on to analyse the prospects for Turkey in the twenty-first century, in the light of the possible integration into Europe, which may leave the country's leadership free to deal effectively with domestic issues. This book will make crucial reading for anyone studying Turkish politics, or indeed European or European Union politics.

This book represents a new conceptualization on Turkish Foreign Policy. It includes over forty chapters covering ten area-based analyses including Turkey's relations with the EU, the Middle East, Cyprus and the US, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Central Asia, Latin America, the Far East and International Organizations.

Afterword: Middle East Studies for the New Millennium: Infrastructures of Knowledge -- Appendix: Producing Knowledge on World Regions: Overview of Data Collection and Project Methodology, 2000-Present -- About the Contributors -- Index

Traces the roots of the Turkish Republic to the Ottoman Empire

Reports on conditions in Turkey at the beginning of the twenty-first century, looking at the country's potential to become a world leader, and examining the factors that could keep that from happening.

Tracing the evolution of Turkey's foreign policy, from isolationism to regional agreements and organizations, this study explores the country's new international posture. Rubin (strategic studies, Bar- Ilan University) and Kirisci (political science, Bogazici University) assess Turkey's policy toward Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and the United States, as well as its growing role in the Middle East. They address the issues central to Turkey's economic, energy, and water policy. They also discuss the interest groups and institutions affecting the policymaking process and the challenges facing the country's rapidly urbanizing and industrializing economy.

Middle East Politics for the New Millennium: A Constructivist Approach looks at the politics of one of the world’s most dynamic and challenging regions using the insights offered by constructivism. By analyzing the role of ideas and repeated interaction, the authors offer a refreshing long view analysis of the region’s politics that differs from the crisis-centric approach which is often utilized. Covering the countries from the Persian Gulf to Turkey, Egypt and across North Africa, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Middle East Politics for the New Millennium will aid students and analysts alike in understanding Middle East politics.