Turkish-Greek Relations: Foreign Policy in a Securitisation Framework

This book examines the complex and often tense relationship between Turkey and Greece, exploring how security concerns have shaped their interactions over the years. It analyzes the speeches of key Turkish officials and provides valuable insight into the country's securitization and desecuritization of Greece. The author argues that the recent rapprochement process in Turkish-Greek relations paved the way for desecuritization, and suggests that the change through stability form of desecuritization proposed by Hansen best explains this period. The book is particularly relevant in the current geopolitical context, with issues such as competition over the Eastern Mediterranean, the ongoing deadlock in Cyprus, Turkey's involvement in Libya, and new tension in the Aegean Sea making Greek-Turkish relations a critical subject of international relations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The vicious cycle of improvement and deterioration in Greek-Turkish relations is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a critical perspective to understand. This book aims to provide such a perspective by examining the trends of securitisation and desecuritisation in the relationship between Greece and Turkey.

Securitisation refers to the process by which an issue or problem is perceived as a threat to national security, leading to increased political and military tensions. In the case of Greek-Turkish relations, securitisation has been driven by a range of factors, including historical disputes, territorial claims, and economic competition.

One of the key trends in securitisation in Greek-Turkish relations has been the increasing militarisation of the conflict. Military bureaucrats and civilian authorities have played a significant role in securitising the relationship, using rhetoric and symbolism to heighten tensions and create a sense of urgency. This has been particularly evident in the recent escalation of tensions over the Aegean Sea, where Turkey has accused Greece of encroaching on its territorial waters and has launched military exercises in the area.

Another trend in securitisation has been the use of discourse by securitising actors to influence Turkish foreign policy. This has been particularly evident in the speeches and statements of Turkish elites, including the president, prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, chief of general staff, and the secretary general of the National Security Council. These actors have used rhetoric that portrays Greece as a threat to Turkish national security, using terms such as "enemy" and "threat" to describe Greece.

The speech acts of securitising actors have played a significant role in shaping Turkish foreign policy towards Greece. These actors have used rhetoric to create a sense of urgency and to justify military actions and policies. For example, in the case of the Aegean Sea tensions, Turkish elites have used rhetoric to portray Greece as a threat to Turkish sovereignty and to justify military exercises and the deployment of naval assets in the area.

In addition to the trends of securitisation and desecuritisation, this book also analyses the speech acts to understand the influence of the securitising actors in Turkish foreign policy. By examining the language.

The relationship with Greece has always been at the forefront in determining Turkish foreign policy. This book focuses broadly on the main issues of contention between Turkey and Greece, and analyses Turkey's policies towards Greece, based on the securitisation framework and focusing on the discourse of elites in the post-Cold War period. It inquires how, by whom, and the extent to which Turkish foreign policy has securitised and de-securitised Greece.

Focusing on an extensive discourse analysis of statements from Turkish elites, including the president, prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, chief of general staff, and the secretary general of the National Security Council, Cihan Dizdaro?lu presents a fresh and critical examination of the foreign policy Turkey enacts regarding Greece. Considering the contemporary geopolitical issues such as competition over the Eastern Mediterranean, the ongoing deadlock in Cyprus, Turkey's involvement in Libya as well as the emergence of new tension in the Aegean Sea, Greek-Turkish relations will continue to be a critical issue for the region and the international community.

In conclusion, the vicious cycle of improvement and deterioration in Greek-Turkish relations is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a critical perspective to understand. This book aims to provide such a perspective by examining the trends.

The trends of securitisation and desecuritisation in the relationship between Greece and Turkey, the increasing militarisation of the conflict, the use of discourse by securitising actors to influence Turkish foreign policy, and the speech acts of securitising actors to understand the influence of the securitising actors in Turkish foreign policy. By examining these trends, this book provides valuable insight into Turkey's securitisation and desecuritisation of Greece and offers a fresh and critical examination of the foreign policy Turkey enacts regarding Greece. As the contemporary geopolitical issues continue to shape the relationship between Greece and Turkey, it is essential to understand the dynamics of securitisation and desecuritisation to promote stability and peace in the region.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 161 x 242 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474492102