Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey: Political, Judicial and Economic Perspectives.

• Author: Alp, Emine

Edited by Kemal Inat, Muhittin Ataman, and Burhanettin Duran

Istanbul: SETA Publications, 2020, 344 pages, [pounds sterling]40, ISBN: 9786257040556

With its longstanding geopolitical problems, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Cyprus issue, the Aegean Sea dispute, and the Arab Spring, the Mediterranean region has historically been conflict-prone. The recent discovery of hydrocarbon deposits has further rendered the region one of the hottest issues in international politics. Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey: Political, Judicial, and Economic Perspectives, an edited book by Kemal Inat, Muhittin Ataman, and Burhanettin Duran, attempts to provide a timely reflection on recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and to place Turkey's position within a broad framework. The book is composed of fourteen articles. It is divided into four parts that deal with different aspects of the topic. The overarching argument of the book, while each part includes its focus, is that Turkey is decisive in safeguarding its rights and national interests in the Eastern Mediterranean by pursuing a multifaceted policy and favors dialogue for a win-win solution. Outlining the political, judicial, and economic contours of the topic, the text also illuminates the role of regional and global actors in the crisis and suggests prospects for a solution.

The book begins by expounding the four determinants of Turkey's policy toward the Eastern Mediterranean region: Turkey's security concerns arising from regional dynamics, its economic interests, its historical and cultural ties with regional people, and its commitment to international law.

Part two elaborates on the geopolitical and geostrategic dimensions of the dispute in four chapters. First, presenting the historical background of the Cyprus issue, which remains unresolved and has become further complicated by the discovery of resources around the island, the authors focus on their argument that a fair settlement of the Cyprus issue is a prerequisite for resolving the Eastern Mediterranean dispute (p. 48). In the second chapter, they highlight the importance of the Mediterranean region throughout history by reminding readers of the Great Power confrontations and major turning points that have occurred there from ancient times to the last century and their effects on world history. However, trying to summarize almost the entire history of the region in one chapter may seem a bit distractive.

The third...