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Home > Politics, Security Issues, and International Relations of Turkey and the Balkans

Politics, Security Issues, and International Relations of Turkey and the Balkans

Center: 
European Union
Program(s): 
European Union Summer
Discipline(s): 
Political Science
International Relations
Course code: 
PO/IR 340
Terms offered: 
Summer
Credits: 
3
Language of instruction: 
English
Instructor: 
Arndt Michael
Description: 

The course analyzes in a comparative way the crucial geo-strategic and security issues of EU - South East Europe Relations. The course covers security implications for the EU of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia / Western Balkans, and concentrates on the security architecture of Turkey within a European context, as well as its EU accession and its foreign policy towards the Caucasus and Central Asia. This includes a study of energy supply issues and of Turkey’s role in the Muslim world and the Middle East. The region’s democratization and the double enlargements of both EU and NATO with their political implications for Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus are also covered.

Prerequisites: 

Prior coursework in European-focused political science, international relations and/or modern European history

Attendance policy: 

All IES courses require attendance and participation. Attendance is mandatory per IES policy. Any unexcused absence may count against your final grade. Any student who has more than three (3) unexcused absences will receive an “F” as the final grade in the course. Absences due to sickness, religious observances, and family emergencies may be excusable at the discretion of the Center Director. In the case of an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Academic Dean of the absence with an Official Excused Absence Form, as well as any other relevant documentation (e.g. a doctor’s note), and to keep a record thereof. This form can be collected at the office of the Academic Dean and must be turned in as soon as possible before the class, in the case of a planned absence, or as soon as possible after the class, in the case of an unplanned absence, in order for the absence to be considered excused. It is also the student’s responsibility to inform the professor of the missed class.

Learning outcomes: 
  • Substantial knowledge about the foreign and security policy of the EU versus Turkey, the Balkans and South East Europe both as a region and as individual nations/areas
  • Geo-strategic perspective on the role of Russia, the Muslim world and other neighbours in the region
  • Awareness of links between external and internal security
  • In-depth understanding of the process, the complexity and intensity of European Union enlargement
  • Field study and area research experience
Method of presentation: 

Lectures, student presentations and student-led seminar discussions

Required work and form of assessment: 

Readings, presentation of two texts and active participation in seminar discussions (20%), term paper project (30%), mid-term exam (20%), final exam (30%).

Seminar discussions are based upon the compulsory readings and teaching introductions to the subject given at each session by the instructor. All students are expected to join the seminar discussions following the teaching introductions with (prepared) questions and points related to the readings and with new ideas related to the conclusions presented. The seminar reader contains all required readings.

Term papers are research assignments (about 8-10 pages) based upon one of the seminar discussions. Independent research and critical analysis are vital for these projects. The student is free to choose any subject matter for a term paper in prior consultation with the instructor. These are due in the last session before the final exam. A brief summary of the outline term paper is to be submitted to the instructor.

content: 

I. Introduction to Foreign Policy and Security Issues concerning the EU, Russia, the Balkans, Turkey and South East Europe

  1. The theoretical background: Theories of International Relations and the Clash of Civilizations

Readings: Smith/Baylis (2005); Huntington (1993); Silvestri (2007)

  1. EU Foreign Policy: A Historical Overview and the EU as a Strange Superpower?

Readings: Bindi (2010); Cameron (2007)

  1. The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP): Characteristics, Objectives and Instruments & the European Security Strategy (ESS)

Readings: Keukeleire (2008a); ESS (2003) 

  1. The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP): Dimensions

Readings: Keukeleire (2008b); ESS – 5 years on (2008); Verola (2010)

  1. The European Union and Russia:  Cooperation, Competition and the Chances of a Strategic Partnership

Readings: Medina Abellán (2004); Picardo (2010)

  1. Europe’s Eastern Promise: Implications of EU and NATO Expansion

Readings: Asmus (2008)

  1. The New Role of NATO and the Iran/Iraq Equation

Readings: King (2008); Perthes and Wegner (2006)

II:  Ethnic Conflicts and Security in the Balkans

  1. The Collapse of Yugoslavia 1991-1999 and the Legacy

Readings: TIMELINE; Finlan (2004)

  1. Mid-term test (sessions 1-8)
     
  1.  The Former Yugoslavia: International Actors and Conclusions for European Security    

 Readings: Bell (1996)

  1.  “Peacekeeping” and “Keeping the Peace” in the Former Yugoslavia

       Readings: Joseph (2005); Gori (2010)

  1.  Kosovo: The EU fall out (again)

 Readings: King and Mason (2006)

FIELD STUDY TRIP Balkans

  1. Field Trip Reflection Session
     

III: Turkey’s foreign and security policy and the EU
 

  1. How essential is Turkey to European Security?

 Readings: TIMELINE; Taspinar (2007); Joseph (2010)

! Term Paper summary due !

  1.  Is ESDP Possible without Turkey?

 Readings: Çayhan (2003)

  1.  A Hawk’s View from Turkey: Implications of Relations with Syria, Iran, and Israel

 Readings: Kibaroglu (2007)

  1.  Turkey and Iraq: Consequences for the Geostrategic Balance

 Readings: Kayhan and Lindley (2007)

IV. Cross regional security issues, external actors and additional conflicts

  1.  The European Neighbourhood Policy and EU Policy towards the Ukraine and Belarus

  Readings: Casier (2010); Giusti (2010)

FIELD STUDY TRIP TURKEY

  1.  The Russian Gas Question and European Security Implications

 Readings: Westphal (2009)

  1.  Wrap-up Session: Politics, Security Issues and International relations: The EU as a world power?

 Readings: Keukeleire (2008c); TIME Magazine (March 2010); SPIEGEL (February 2011)

! TERM PAPER DUE !

 Final Exam (on all sessions)

Required readings: 

Asmus, Ronald D. 2008. Europe’s eastern Promise: Rethinking NATO and EU enlargement. Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb 2008 pp. 95-106.

Baylis, John/ Steve Smith (eds.). 2005. The Globalization of World Politics. An introduction to international relations. 3rd edition, Oxford: University Press (Introduction, chapter 4).

Bell, M. 1996. In Harm’s Way. Penguin, London.

Bindi, Federiga. 2010.  European Union Foreign Policy: A Historical Overview. In: Federiga Bindi (ed.). The Foreign Policy of the European Union – Assessing Europe’s Role in the World. Washington: The Brookings Institution, pp. 13-40.

Casier, Tom. 2010. The European Neighbourhood Policy: Assessing the EU’s Policy towards the Region. In: Federiga Bindi (ed.). The Foreign Policy of the European Union – Assessing Europe’s Role in the World. Washington: The Brookings Institution, pp. 99-115.

Cameron, Fraser. 2007. An Introduction to European Foreign Policy. Chapter 1 - A strange superpower, pp. 1-22. Oxon: Routledge.

Çayhan, Esra. 2003. Towards a European Security and Defense Policy: With or Without Turkey?, Turkish Studies, Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2003 , pp. 35-54(20).

European Security Strategy. 2003. Available at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/78367.pdf

European Security Strategy. 2008. Report on the Implementation. Available at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/reports/104630.pdf

Finlan, Alastair. 2004. The Collapse of Yugoslavia 1991-1999. Osprey: Oxford.

Giusti, Sernea. 2010. EU Policy toward Ukraine and Belarus: Diverging Paths?. In: Federiga Bindi (ed.). The Foreign Policy of the European Union – Assessing Europe’s Role in the World. Washington: The Brookings Institution, pp. 133-147.

Gori, Luca. 2010. The Balkans and the European Union. In: Federiga Bindi (ed.). The Foreign Policy of the European Union – Assessing Europe’s Role in the World. Washington: The Brookings Institution, pp. 148-154.

Huntington, Samuel P. 1993. The Clash of Civilizations?, in: Foreign Affairs, Summer 1993, pp. 22-49.

Joseph, Edward P. 2005. Back to the Balkans. In: Foreign Affairs, Vol. 84., No. 1, pp. 111-122.

Joseph, Joseph S. 2010. EU Enlargement: The Challenge and Promise of Turkey. In: Federiga Bindi (ed.). The Foreign Policy of the European Union – Assessing Europe’s Role in the World. Washington: The Brookings Institution, pp. 155-168.

Kayhan, Ozlem/ Lindley Dan. 2006. The Iraq War and the troubled US. Turkish Alliance: Some Conclusions for Europe in turkey and the European Union, Joseph S. Joseph (ed.), Palgrave.

Keukeleire, Stephan / McNaughtan, Jennifer. 2008. The Foreign Policy of the European Union Palgrave, MacMillan. 

2008a: Chapter 6 - The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), pp. 148-173

2008b: Chapter 7 - The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), pp. 174-198.

2008c: Chapter 10 – The Main Arenas of EU Foreign Policy (excerpt!), pp. 255-275

Kibaroglu, Mustafa. 2007. Security Implications of Turkey’s March Towards EU Membership, in Joseph J.S. (ed) Turkey and the European Union, Palgrave MacMillan, New York and Hampshire, 2006, pp. 178-190

King, C. 2008. The Five-Day War: Managing the Kosovo Crisis, Foreign Affairs Nov/Dec 2008, pp. 2-11.

King, I and Mason, W. 2006. Peace at any Price: How the world failed Kosovo. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.

Medina Abellan, Miguel Angel. 2004. Russia: Towards a Strategic Partnership? in: Mahncke, Dieter / Ambos, Alicia / Reynolds, Christopher (eds.) (2004): European Foreign Policy – From Rhetoric to Reality?, Brussels, pp. 227-239.

Perthes, Volker / Wegner, Eva. 2006. Enriching the Options: Europe, the United States, and Iran, SWP (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) Discussion Paper, May 2006, Berlin.

Piccardo, Lara. 2010. The European Union and Russia: Past, Present, and Future of a Difficult Relationship. In: Federiga Bindi (ed.). The Foreign Policy of the European Union – Assessing Europe’s Role in the World. Washington: The Brookings Institution, pp. 119-132.

Silvestri, Sara. 2007. Islam and the EU: the merits and risks of inter-cultural dialogue, EPC Policy Brief, Brussels, June 2007 (European Policy Centre).

SPIEGEL. 2011. The EU has failed the Arab World. Published 2/28/2011. Available at http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,748074,00.html

Taspinar, Ömar. 2007. The Old Turk’s Revolt: When radical secularism endangers democracy, Foreign Affairs Nov/Dec 2007 pp. 114-130.

TIME Magazine 2010. The Incredible Shrinking Europe?. 8 March.

Verola, Nicola. 2010. The New EU Foreign Policy under the Treaty of Lisbon. In: Federiga Bindi (ed.). The Foreign Policy of the European Union – Assessing Europe’s Role in the World. Washington: The Brookings Institution, pp. 41-50.

Westphal, Kirsten. 2009. Russian Gas, Ukrainian Pipelines, and European Supply Security. Lessons of the 2009 Controversy. SWP (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) Research Paper 11, September 2009. Berlin.

Recommended readings: 

Ambos, Alicia (2004): The Institutionalization of CFSP and ESDP, in: Mahncke, Dieter / Ambos, Alicia / Reynolds, Christopher (eds.) (2004): European Foreign Policy – From Rhetoric to Reality?, Brussels, pp. 165-192

Apap, Joanna / Carrera, Sergio / Kirişci, Kemal (2004): Turkey in the European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, CEPS EU-Turkey Working Papers No. 3/ August 2004, Brussels

Bechev, Dimitar / Andreev, Svetlozar (2005): Top-Down versus Bottom-up Aspects of the EU-Institution-Buliding Strategies in the Western Balkans, Oxford University St Antony’s College, South East European Studies Programme SEESP Occasional Paper No. 3/05, February 2005, Oxford

Bechev, Dimitar (2005): EU and the Balkans: The Long and Winding Road to Membership, University St Antony’s College, South East European Studies Programme SEESP Occasional Paper, February 2005.

Bielawski, Martina / Halbach, Uwe (2004): The Georgian Knot – The Crisis in South Ossetia in the Context of Georgian-Russian Relations, SWP (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) Comments 28, September 2004, Berlin

Center for European Policy Studies (2006): Report of Events – The Cyprus Stalemate: What Next?, 28 March 2006, Brussels, available online: www.ceps.be/wp.php?article_id=524, accessed 6 August 2006

and the Balkans: From Association to Membership ?, SWP Comments 7, May 2003, Berlin

Cameron, Fraser (2006): Russia on the eve of the G 8 Summit, European Policy Centre EPC Policy Brief, July 2006, Brussels

Clark, Ian (2005): Globalization and the Post-Cold War Order. In: Baylis/ Smith (eds.), chapter 33

Clark, J., (2008) Serbia in the Shadow of Milosevic: The legacy of conflict in the Balkans (Taurus Academic Studies, London and New York, 2008)

Commission of the European Communities (2006a): Bulgaria – May 2006 Monitoring Report, SEC (2006) 595, 16 May 2006, Brussels, pp. 1-13 and 34-41

Commission of the European Communities (2006b): Romania – May 2006 Monitoring Report, SEC (2006) 596, 16 May 2006, Brussels, pp. 1-13 and 33-40

Council of the European Union (2006a): Brussels European Council 15/16 June 2006 – Presidency Conclusions, Document 10633/1/06 REV 1, 17 July 2006, Brussels

Council of the European Union (2006b): Council Decision 2006/35/EC on principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession partnership for Turkey, 23 January 2006, Brussels

Council of the European Union (2006c): Council Decision 2006/145/EC on principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession partnership for Croatia, 20 February 2006, Brussels

Council of the European Union – General Secretariat DG F Communication (2005): Living in an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, Brussels

Emerson, Michael / Tocci, Nathalie (2004): Turkey as a Bridgehead and Spearhead – Integrating EU and Turkish Foreign Policy, Centre for European Policy Studies CEPS EU-Turkey Working Paper No. 1/ August 2004, Brussels

Euractiv (2006): Turkey Accession and Cyprus, available online: http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/ turkey-accession-cyprus/article-135940, accessed 8 August 2006

European Security Forum (2005): A European Balkans?, ESF Working Paper No. 18, January 2005, Brussels / London, CEPS/IISS

Calic, Marie-Janine (2003): The EU

European Commission (2005a): Croatia 2005 Progress Report, SEC (2005) 1424, 9 November 2005, Brussels, pp. 1-34, 91-95, 108-117

European Commission (2005b): Turkey 2005 Progress Report, SEC (2005) 1426, 9 November 2005, Brussels, pp. 1-42, 110-114, 134-146

European Commission DG Enlargement (2006a): CARDS Justice and Home Affairs, available online at http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/financial_assistance/cards/jha_en.htm, accessed 10 August 2006

European Commission DG Enlargement (2006b): CARDS Justice and Home Affairs Case Studies, http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/financial_assistance/cards/case_studies_..., accessed 10 August 2006

European Parliament (2004): Report on Croatia’s Accession to the European Union, (2003/2254 (INI)), rapporteur Alexandros Baltas, A5-206/2004, 22 March 2004, Brussels

European Parliament (2006a): Report on Bulgaria’s Accession to the European Union, (2006/2114 (INI)), rapporteur Pierre Moscovici, AFET/6/34577, A6-xxxx/2006, Brussels

European Parliament (2006b): Report on Romania’s Accession to the European Union, (2006/2115 (INI)), rapporteur Geoffrey van Orden, AFET/6/34035, A6-xxxx/2006, Brussels

European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee (2006): Draft Report on Turkey’s progress towards accession (2006/2118(INI)), rapporteur Camiel Eurlings, PE 374.360v01-00, 6 June 2006, Brussels

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Brussels Office (2006): Brussels Focus: Where are Ukraine-EU relations heading for?, May 2006, Brussels

Götz, Roland. 2006. Europe and China competing for Russian Gas?, SWP (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) Comments 14, May 2006, Berlin, pp. 1-7.

Grant, Charles (2002): Nato’s New Role, Centre for European Reform, August 7, 2002, http://www.cer.org.uk/articles/ft_grant_nato.html, retrieved May 30, 2007.

Halbach, Uwe (2002): War on the Edge of Europe – The Chechen Conflict in a New Light?,Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP Comments 4, November 2002, Berlin

Halbach, Uwe (2004): An Escalation of Violence in the Caucasus, Hardening in Russia, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP Comments 30, October 2004, Berlin

Howorth, Jolyon (2005): From Security to Defence: The Evolution of the CFSP, in: Hill, Christopher / Smith, Michael (eds.) (2005): International Relations and the European Union, Oxford / New York, pp. 179-204

International Crisis Group (2006): Next Iraqi War? Sectarianism and Civil Conflict, Middle East Report N°52 – 27 February 2006. http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/middle_east___north_africa/... 52_the_next_iraqi_war_sectarianism_and_civil_conflict.pdf, retrieved May 30, 2007.

Irrera,Daniel (2006): The Balkanisation of Politics, Crime and Corruption in Albania, EUI Working Papers, Robert Schuman Center, http://www.iue.it/RSCAS/WP-Texts/06_18.pdf, retrieved May 30, 2007

Kempe, Iris / Klotzle, Kurt (2006): The Balkans and the Black Sea Region: Problems, Potentials and Policy Options, Bertelsmann CAP Policy Analysis No. 2 April 2006, Munich / Gütersloh

Kirisci, Kemal (2006). Turkey’s Foreign Policy in Turbulent Times, Chaillot Paper, Institute of Security Studies.

Kirkpatrick, Jeane J. and others (1993): The Modernizing Imperative – Tradition and Change, in: Foreign Affairs, September/ October 1993, pp. 22-26

Khalil, Lydia (2006): Turkey’s Mounting Concerns over PKK Incursions from Northern Iraq, in: The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus, vol. III, Issue 28, 18 July 2006, p. 3

Kramer, Heinz (2007): EU-Turkey Negotiations: Still in the Cyprus “impasse”, SWP Comments Vol 1, Jan 2007, Berlin

Kupferschmidt, Frank (2006): Putting Strategic Partnership to the Test – Cooperation between NATO and the EU in Operation Althea, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP Research Paper S 7, April 2006, Berlin

Lindner, Rainer. 2007. Enduring Crisis in Ukraine: A test case for European Neighbourhood Policy, SWP (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) Comments 9, May 2007.

Marchetti, Andreas, ed (2005): Ten Years Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: Defining European Interests for the Next Decade, Discussion Paper, C154, Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung, Bonn, 1-30.

Müller, Friedemann (2006): Global Energy Resource Supply: Strategic Trends, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP Working Paper FG 8, 2006/03, May 2006, Berlin

NATO (2004): NATO-Russia – Forging deeper relations, March 2004, Brussels, available online at www.nato.int/ , accessed 6 August 2006

NATO (2006): NATO-Ukraine – an intensified Dialogue, April 2006, Brussels, available online at www.nato.int/ , accessed 6 August 2006

Özcan, Gencer (2004): Turkey’s Changing Neighborhood Policy, Briefing Paper Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Istanbul Office, September 2004, Istanbul

Ramet, S.P. 2008. The Denial Syndrome and its Consequences: Serbian political culture since 2000 in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia at Peace and at War: Selected writings 1983-2007, LIT-Verlag, Berlin and Vienna.

Rees, Wyn (2005): The External Face of Internal Security, in: Hill, Christopher / Smith, Michael (eds.) (2005): International Relations and the European Union, Oxford / New York, pp. 203-224

Republic of Turkey – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005a): The Republic of Turkey and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Ankara, available online: www.mfa.gov.tr/MFA/ForeignPolicy/InternationalOrganisations/OIC/ , accessed 6 August 2006

Republic of Turkey – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005b): Turkey’s Security perspectives and its relations with NATO, Ankara, available online at http://www.mfa.gov.tr/MFA/ForeignPolicy/InternationalOrganisations/NATO. , accessed 6 August 2006

Roberts, John (2004): The Turkish Gate: Energy Transit and Security Issues, Centre for European Policy Studies CEPS EU-Turkey Working Paper No. 11/ October 2004, Brussels

Adomeit, Hannes (2006): Russia’s Iran Policy, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP Comments 9, March 2006, Berlin

Altmann, Franz-Lothar (2005): Kosovo 2005/2006: Phased Independence?, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP Comments 28, June 2005, Berlin

Ryding, Helene (2004): Briefing Notes: Energy Community of South Eastern Europe, Athens Process Secretariat, 15 August 2004, Athens, available online: www.seerecon.org/ , accessed 4 August 2006

Saikal, A., (2003): Islam and West: Conflict or cooperation, Palgrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, 2003

Schneider, Eberhard / Saurenbach, Christoph (2005): Kiev’s EU Ambitions, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik SWP Comments 14, April 2005, Berlin

Tocci, Nathalie (2005): Conflict Resolution in the Neighbourhood – Comparing the Role of the EU in the Turkish-Kurdish and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflicts, Centre for European Policy Studies CEPS EU-Turkey Working Document No. 221/ March 2005, Brussels

Wallace, Helen / Wallace, William / Pollack, Mark A.(eds.) (2005): Policy-Making in the European Union (5th edition), Oxford/ New York (Oxford University Press)

Wolczuk, Kataryna (2004): Integration without Europeanisation: Ukraine and its policies towards the European Union, European University Institute EUI Working Paper RSCAS No. 2004/15, San Domenico di Fiesole

Wong, Reuben (2005): The Europeanization of Foreign Policy, in: Hill, Christopher / Smith, Michael (eds.) (2005): International Relations and the European Union, Oxford / New York, pp. 134-153

Other Resources: 

Agence Europe (newsagency specialized on EU affairs): www.agenceurope.com

Centre for European Reform: www.cer.org.uk

(!) EU Institute for Security Studies: www.iss-eu.org (!) – Chaillot Papers

EU Observer: euobserver.com

EurActive Network: www.euractiv.com/en/security

Brief Biography of Instructor: 

Arndt Michael has a degree in law and holds a dual master’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Freiburg and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban (Global Studies Programme). He completed his Phd on India’s foreign policy and regional cooperation in South Asia in 2008. Since 2005, he has been a research fellow at the Arnold Bergstraesser Institute for Socio-Cultural Research in Freiburg. He has been lecturing at the university since 2004 and has taught classes, inter alia, on the European Union, European Foreign Policy, the United Nations, India’s Foreign Policy and Political Science Methodology. His present research focuses on European Union Foreign and Security Policy, India’s Foreign Policy and European and South Asian regionalism.

Contact Hours: 
45

Source URL: http://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/courses/european-union/summer-2013/po-ir-340