Şaban Kardaş - Böcker

This edited book takes a critical look at the geopolitics of the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It scrutinizes some of the perennial issues shaping the regional security agenda, as well as the emerging geopolitical trends in the wake of a decade of turmoil triggered by the demands for political and economic reforms. The contributors explore the geopolitical implications of the structural transformation process in the MENA region and beyond, which has unleashed destabilizing forces and multifaceted conflicts, with the involvement of many local, regional and global actors. They also look at how some of the regional actors have reacted to the risks and security challenges produced by the wave of instability and conflicts, and conducted their foreign policy in this volatile period of fluid alliances. Other contributors explore the roles and perspectives of major extra-regional actors, delving deeper into how they have adjusted their policies towards the emergence of a new order and reshuffling of alignments. This book will be of interest to researchers and advanced students of politics, international relations, and political geography. It was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies.

This edited book takes a critical look at the geopolitics of the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It scrutinizes some of the perennial issues shaping the regional security agenda, as well as the emerging geopolitical trends in the wake of a decade of turmoil triggered by the demands for political and economic reforms. The contributors explore the geopolitical implications of the structural transformation process in the MENA region and beyond, which has unleashed destabilizing forces and multifaceted conflicts, with the involvement of many local, regional and global actors. They also look at how some of the regional actors have reacted to the risks and security challenges produced by the wave of instability and conflicts, and conducted their foreign policy in this volatile period of fluid alliances. Other contributors explore the roles and perspectives of major extra-regional actors, delving deeper into how they have adjusted their policies towards the emergence of a new order and reshuffling of alignments. This book will be of interest to researchers and advanced students of politics, international relations, and political geography. It was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies.

This book critically examines Turkey’s shift towards a more coercive and hard power-driven foreign policy over the past decade. It explores how Ankara’s assertive orientation has reshaped its regional policies, with militarized international disputes and the pursuit of strategic autonomy becoming defining features. The contributors delve into the theoretical underpinnings of this transformation while offering empirically grounded analyses of its practical manifestations. Key areas of focus include the evolution of Turkey’s defense industry, the international engagements of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), the transformation of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), changes within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, counter-terrorism strategies, and energy policies.This volume is ideal for scholars, researchers, and students in the fields of international relations, political science, Middle Eastern studies, and security studies. It will also appeal to policymakers and practitioners interested in understanding Turkey’s evolving foreign policy and its implications for regional and global dynamics.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue in Southeast European and Black Sea Studies.