Modern Geopolitics of Eastern Mediterranean Hydrocarbons in an Age of Energy Transformation.

• Author: Mehmet, Ozay

The Eastern Mediterranean has been one of the most debated and contentious regions on the global agenda for the past two decades and has drawn attention by virtue of its unique location for much longer. In ancient times, it formed a major leg along the route of the Silk Road; after the Industrial Revolution, it enabled imperial powers to reach their colonies and markets; before WWI, states treated the Eastern Mediterranean like a constantly changing chessboard, as they scrambled to avoid adversaries while racing to meet a rapidly increasing oil demand. These days, the off-shore hydrocarbon reserves discovered there, and the prospects for discovering more, have made the region even more engrossing for circles and stakeholders from energy to economics, politics to the military. With a semi-enclosed sea as its central feature, one can count the number of maritime delimitation controversies between the coastal states of the region. To shed light on this complex environment, Modern Geopolitics of Eastern

Mediterranean Hydrocarbons in an Age of Energy Transformation, by Ozay Mehmet and Vedat Yorucu, "is written as an exercise in rational behavior in support of regional cooperation in order to monetize hydrocarbon wealth in the Eastern Mediterranean" (p. v).

Throughout the book, the authors use the term "Eastern Mediterranean" to refer to the Levant from Egypt in the South through the coastline states of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, to Turkey in the North, including the island of Cyprus as well. Although it does not have direct access to the Levant, Iraq is also considered among these states, since the country is one of the oldest oil producers in the world, and plays a significant role in the region.

The book consists of 12 chapters; following the introduction, Chapter 2 covers energy transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources. Chapter 3 provides the theoretical background of the book; the authors predicate their thesis on 'location theory' and a 'regional energy model.' Location theory, in short, asserts that "locational determinants ultimately shape the behavior of the actors" situated in a given locale. These determinants gradually allow the actors to elude their historical passions and pride, and strengthen rational thinking. The model indicates that economic rationalism plays a crucial role even in the most complicated scenarios. Actors prioritize economic interests, and thus begin to make rational decisions that conform...