Geostrategic Alliances in the Eastern Mediterranean and MENA: A Universal Paradigm Shift (SpringerBriefs in International Relations)

This book examines the geostrategic alliances in the Eastern Mediterranean and MENA regions. It analyzes how these alliances transcend stereotyped political and cultural prototypes throughout western Eurasia as the outcome of shifting regional power balances. The authors explain how this development has its foundation mostly in the United States' ‘Pivot to Asia’ policy, resulting in a lower priority ranking of the Middle East for Washington, but also in the emergence of China’s economic incursion on the wider region. The book looks into and presents different reasons for this paradigm shift: First and foremost, the historical ambitions and conflicting assertions of sovereignty in the region. Then, competition over control of hydrocarbons reserves and pipeline politics, civil wars, and political chaos in certain littoral states. US retrenchment and Russia’s naval base expansion in Syria, as well as Turkish expansion in Libya, NATO allies divisions and, not to reckon with, waves of migration and refugees. Yet some internal and external factors could lead to some changes in these trends, including the need to engage in energy transitions due to climate change consequences in the region. Therefore, this book is a must-read for scholars, students, policy-makers, and practitioners interested in a better understanding of the political development in the Eastern Mediterranean and MENA regions, as well as of International Relations in general. Acknowledgments 7 Contents 8 About the Authors 11 List of Figures 13 List of Tables 14 Chapter 1: Introduction 15 Part I: Times of Change: The Energy Perspective of Things 18 Chapter 2: Energy and the International System 19 References 23 Chapter 3: The Economics of Energy: Restrictions Not to Be Overtaken 24 References 31 Chapter 4: The Eastern Mediterranean and MENA Regions: Revisionist Areas in the International System? 33 References 38 Chapter 5: The Aftermath of the New Energy Mandate 39 References 40 Part II: Energy Dynamics and Transitions in MENA and Eastern Mediterranean: From Hydrocarbons to Electricity 41 Chapter 6: Energy Resources in Eastern Mediterranean and MENA 42 6.1 The Situation at the Eve of 21st Century 42 6.1.1 MENA as a Major Producing Area 42 6.1.2 The Eastern Mediterranean, a Forgotten Region 45 6.1.3 The Geography of International Oil Companies 46 6.2 EM Resources Discoveries: A Major Shift? 49 6.2.1 Israel: Looking for Leviathan 50 6.2.2 Cyprus: Aphrodite and the Maritime Border Dispute 51 6.2.3 Other Regional Players 52 6.3 The Balance Change: EM vs. North Africa 52 6.4 Conclusion 54 References 55 Chapter 7: From Resources to Final Customers, the Transportation Issue 56 7.1 The European Markets as the Final Destination 56 7.1.1 From Europe to Asia? 57 7.1.2 Energy Transitions and the Impact for Europe 60 7.1.3 Western Balkans New Appetite for Gas 63 7.2 Towards New Gasoducts 63 7.2.1 The Importance of EM for the EU: Avoiding the Russian Territory 64 7.2.1.1 Southern Gas Corridor 64 7.2.1.2 Eastern Mediterranean Projects 66 7.2.2 The Turkish Gambit: Between Russia and the EU 68 7.3 The LNG Issue: A Major Gamechanger? 70 7.4 Turkey and Greece: Becoming the New Gas Hub for Southern Europe 73 7.4.1 The EU in the Middle 75 7.5 Conclusion 76 References 76 Chapter 8: Energy Transitions in EM and MENA Regions, Towards New Alliances? 78 8.1 Energy Transitions in Resources Rich Areas 79 8.1.1 The Threat of Dutch Disease 79 8.1.2 Adaptation of National Energy Mixes 79 8.1.3 Towards New Business? 81 8.2 Renewable Energy Sources in Major Oil and Gas Producing Countries: Contrasted Situations 83 8.2.1 MENA: Algeria vs. Morocco 83 8.2.2 Gulf Countries and the Need to Diversify 85 8.2.3 Eastern Mediterranean Countries 86 8.3 International Cooperation in Energy Transition: A Specific Geo-Economic Issue 88 8.3.1 European Countries and Companies 88 8.3.2 Chinese Companies in Regional Energy Transitions 89 8.3.3 Regional Interconnection: Still a Dream? 90 8.4 Conclusion 91 References 92 Part III: Eastern Mediterranean Systemic International Regionalism in Process 94 Introduction 94 Reference 95 Chapter 9: Eastern Mediterranean Geopolitical Conception 96 References 97 Chapter 10: Turkey Extroventism 98 References 100 Chapter 11: Eastern Mediterranean Geopolitical Sub-System 102 References 103 Chapter 12: Eastern Mediterranean Regionalism Quest 104 References 105 Chapter 13: Regional and Global Actors ́ Involvement in the EM-MENA Region 106 References 110 Chapter 14: Erdogan, Sisi and the Fate of Egyptian-Turkish Relations 111 References 113 Chapter 15: The New `Great Game ́ 114 References 116 Chapter 16: Two Opposing Geostrategic Blocks for the Prize of Euro-Africa Trans-Mediterranean Trade and Energy Connection 117 References 119 Chapter 17: Greek Foreign Policy Changing Geometry and the Re-Definition of the West 120 References 125 Chapter 18: Afterword 126