MVZn5094 Geopolitics and economic cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Prof. Alfred Tovias, PhD (lecturer), PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 24. 4. 16:00–17:40 P22, Tue 25. 4. 18:00–19:40 P24b, Wed 26. 4. 18:00–19:40 P24b, Thu 27. 4. 16:00–17:40 U35
Prerequisites
Good knowledge of English language.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Students taking this course are those with an international outlook who are interested in exploring the potential of regional economic cooperation in the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean in a more or less distant future when their political and military conflicts are solved by mutual agreement. Can and should these countries forge links where none existed before? Is it possible to establish a balance of prosperity between them rather than a balance of terror? The focus and case studies will mainly deal with the last decade’s experience in the domain of energy, particularly gas.
Learning outcomes
Students should after successful completion of the requirements be able to understand the policy considerations of the different regional actors as well as the OECD, the World Bank and the IMF regarding regional economic cooperation involving Arab countries of the Levant, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Cyprus. This should be a must for students planning to strategically advise or work for governments and companies based in those countries but also in Europe at large.
Syllabus
  • SESSION 1: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AND THE LEVANT (GREECE, TURKEY, CYPRUS, LEBANON, ISRAEL, JORDAN, PALESTINE AND EGYPT) Readings: A. Romagnoli and L. Mengoni, The Economic Development Process in the Middle east and North Africa, Routledge, 2014, chapter 5, pp. 97-121 and chapter 9, pp. 193-221. SESSION 2: SOME THEORETICAL CONCEPTS: BALANCE OF PROSPERITY, VESTED INTERESTS IN PEACE, ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF STABLE PEACE-MAKING Readings: R. Arad, S. Hirsch and A. Tovias, The Economics of Peace Making: Focus on the Egyptian Israeli Situation, Macmillan (for the Trade Policy Research Centre), 1983, chapters 1-3, pp. 3-70. A. Tovias, “The Economic Aspects of Stable Peace-Making”, in A. Kacowicz et al., eds., Stable Peace Among Nations, Rowman and Littlefield, 2000, chapter 8, pp. 150-64. SESSION 3: ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Readings: A. Tovias, S. Kalaycioglu, I. Dafni, E. Ruben and L. Herman, “What Would Normalization of Economic Relations Between Mashrek Countries, Turkey and Israel Imply?” in The World Economy, 30/4, 2006, pp. 665-84 A. Giannakopoulos, ed., Energy Cooperation and Security in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Seismic Shift towards Peace or Conflict? Tel Aviv University, The Daniel Abraham Center for International and Regional Studies, Research Paper no.8, 2016, 127 pages A. Giannakopoulos, The Eastern Mediterranean and its Relationship to the EU in Light of Recent Energy Developments, December 2016, unpublished paper R. Nathanson, H. Weisman and A. Lowenthal, Natural Gas in the Eastern Mediterranean: Economic Impacts and Strategic Implications, Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung and INSS, 2013, pp.1-77 SESSION 4: THE GEOPOLITICS OF ENERGY IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Readings: G. Mitchell, The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum: Cooperation in the Shadow of Competition, MITVIM, September 2020, 12 pages. E. Soler I Lecha, The EU and the Eastern Mediterranean: How to deal with Turkey, CIDOB Notes Internacionals, 251, May 2021, 8 pages. A. Stergiou, Greek-Israeli Defense and Energy Ties: Writing a New Chapter in Bilateral Relations, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs, 9/3, 417-28 M.Tanchum,” How did the Eastern Mediterranean Become the Eye of a Geopolitical Storm”, Foreign Policy, 2020, retrieved from https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/18/eastern-mediterranean-greece-turkey-warship-geopolitical-showdown/ M.Tanchum, “Eastern Mediterranean Energy and Regional Cooperation:2021 Outlook”, IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2021, pp.80-5.
Literature
    required literature
  • A. Giannakopoulos, ed., Energy Cooperation and Security in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Seismic Shift towards Peace or Conflict? Tel Aviv University, The Daniel Abraham Center for International and Regional Studies, Research Paper no.8, 2016, 127 pages
  • R. Nathanson, H. Weisman and A. Lowenthal, Natural Gas in the Eastern Mediterranean: Economic Impacts and Strategic Implications, Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung and INSS, 2013, pp.1-77
  • A. Stergiou, Greek-Israeli Defense and Energy Ties: Writing a New Chapter in Bilateral Relations, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs, 9/3, 417-28
  • M.Tanchum, “Eastern Mediterranean Energy and Regional Cooperation:2021 Outlook”, IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2021, pp.80-5.
  • M.Tanchum,” How did the Eastern Mediterranean Become the Eye of a Geopolitical Storm”, Foreign Policy, 2020, retrieved from https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/18/eastern-mediterranean-greece-turkey-warship-geopolitical-showdown/
  • A. Romagnoli and L. Mengoni, The Economic Development Process in the Middle east and North Africa, Routledge, 2014, chapter 5, pp. 97-121 and chapter 9, pp. 193-221.
  • A. Tovias, S. Kalaycioglu, I. Dafni, E. Ruben and L. Herman, “What Would Normalization of Economic Relations Between Mashrek Countries, Turkey and Israel Imply?” in The World Economy, 30/4, 2006, pp. 665-84
  • A. Tovias, “The Economic Aspects of Stable Peace-Making”, in A. Kacowicz et al., eds., Stable Peace Among Nations, Rowman and Littlefield, 2000, chapter 8, pp. 150-64.
  • E. Soler I Lecha, The EU and the Eastern Mediterranean: How to deal with Turkey, CIDOB Notes Internacionals, 251, May 2021, 8 pages.
  • G. Mitchell, The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum: Cooperation in the Shadow of Competition, MITVIM, September 2020, 12 pages.
  • R. Arad, S. Hirsch and A. Tovias, The Economics of Peace Making: Focus on the Egyptian Israeli Situation, Macmillan (for the Trade Policy Research Centre), 1983, chapters 1-3, pp. 3-70.
  • A. Giannakopoulos, The Eastern Mediterranean and its Relationship to the EU in Light of Recent Energy Developments, December 2016, unpublished paper
Teaching methods
Presentations, discussions, written essay and its presentation.
Assessment methods
The grading for the course will be based on two main criteria: 1) Attendance=10%; and 2) Presentation of a written essay in English (8 to 10 pages) = 90%.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
Teacher's information
Date(s): April 24, 2023- April 27, 2023; 4 sessions of 2 academic hours
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