Is It Possible to Create a Mediterranean Community? North African Perspectives

Yıl 2012, Cilt: 4 Sayı: 1, 69 - 89, 01.03.2012

Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioğlu

Öz

Mediterranean is the birthplace of different ancient cultures and civilizations,
however, the countries in the opposite shores of this sea share historically
distinct political, cultural and socio-economic characteristics. Despite these
differences, increasingly rising scholars as well as politicians emphasize the
need to promote cooperation and socio-cultural dialogue in the region which is
expected to eventually lead to the emergence of a Mediterranean community.
Within the context of this article, the possibility of the establishment of such a
formation will be analyzed by elaborating the major obstacles on the
emergence of this community and on a fruitful mutual dialogue. The main
question of the study, therefore, will be to what extent the internal as well as
external dynamics have an influence on the development of this regional
partnership process. The role of international organizations in coordinating
regional co-operation and facilitating the appearance of the Mediterranean
community along with the different views as the northern African perspectives
on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) process –through Barcelona
Process which was evolved into the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)- is also
a great concern of this article. It will be concluded that it is not possible to
create a Mediterranean community in the very near future even though
international institutions can play a significant role in yielding security, stability
and a firm regional cooperation in the Mediterranean littoral.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Barcelona Process, Union for the Mediterranean, EuroMediterranean Partnership, Mediterranean Community, Regional Integration

Kaynakça

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