Overview

This book offers the first comprehensive history and analysis of Turkey’s relations with Israel since 1948, when the state of Israel was established, up until 2010 and places them within the wider framework of Turkey’s foreign policy. It highlights the remarkable lack of consistency in Turkey’s foreign policy towards Israel, under different Turkish governments, which has given the relationship a pervasive sense of unpredictability. Combining empirical-analytical evidence with role theory insights, as developed in Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA), it explores Turkish foreign policy makers’ perceptions regarding the proper role and function of the country in the international system and the sub-system of the Middle East and how they affected the policy towards Israel. The author argues that Ankara’s ambivalent policy towards Israel for over sixty years can be explained by Turkey's multiple and often contradictory national role conceptions. The study, which draws from archival material and over fifty interviews with Turkish, Israeli, American and Arab officials and experts, places Ankara’s policy into a larger analytical framework, which helps link the past to the present and future. The book is essential reading for students and scholars interested in understanding Turkey's foreign policy in general and towards the Middle East in particular.

Full Product Details

9780415328708

Table of Contents

Reviews

'A detailed and detached analysis of multiple and often conflicting forces that have historically shaped Turkish-Israeli relations, a required reading particularly for those interested in understanding the contemporary politics of the Middle East.' Ilter Turan, Emeritus Professor of Political Science in the Department of International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey, and Former President of the International Political Science Association 'An excellent empirical study and an interesting theoretical analysis of Turkey’s relations with Israel written with strict objectiveness and academic detachment. It places Turkey’s relations with Israel within the broader framework of Turkish foreign policy and particularly helps us understand the dilemmas facing Turkish foreign policy. Building on many supportive sources and insights, and based on interviews with diplomats, decision makers and experts, the book presents a compelling thesis that makes an original contribution to the understanding of Turkey’s ambivalence towards Israel. Highly recommended for students of the field, decision makers, as well as lovers of good and thoroughly researched academic work.' Amikam Nachmani, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

Author Information

Ekavi Athanassopoulou is Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Athens. She has a PhD from SOAS, University of London. Her books include Strategic Relations between the U.S. and Turkey: 1979-2000: Sleeping with a Tiger (Routledge, 2014) and Turkey - Anglo-American Security Interests, 1945-1952: The First Enlargement of NATO (Routledge, 2012).

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