MEDITERRANEAN POLITICS

Detailed Course Content

• Actors and Cooperation Processes

  In order to depict the main features of Mediterranean Politics, Module 1 investigates relations between regional and global actors (EU, USA and Southern Mediterranean Countries, but also Russia and China), state and non-state actors (e.g. party politics, civil society organizations, transnational movements). It explores the most relevant on-going political processes in the Mediterranean area: EMP/UfM, ENP, MEPP, NATO Mediterranean Dialogue, etc.. New readings (mostly Journal’s articles) are selected every year to follow the current crucial events.

• EuroMediterranean Relations

  Module 2 tackles crucial issues such as the difficult democratization processes and persistent authoritarianism, regional territorial disputes (in particular war in Syria and Israeli-Palestinian conflict), socio-economic disparities, terrorism, Islamist threats, migration, energy security, maritime security, etc.

Textbook Information

• Actors and Cooperation Processes

  Al-Anani Khalil (2012), ‘Islamist Parties Post-Arab Spring’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 17:3, 466-472;
  Barbé Esther and Herranz Surrallés Anna (2010), ‘Dynamics of Convergence and Differentiation in Euro-Mediterranean Relations: Towards Flexible Region-Building or Fragmentation?’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 15:2, 129–147.
  Dandashly Assem (2015), ‘The EU Response to Regime Change in the Wake of the Arab Revolt: Differential Implementation’, in: Journal of European Integration, 37:1, 37-56;
  Ioannides Isabelle (2014), ‘Inside-out and Outside-in: EU Security in the Neighbourhood’, in: The International Spectator, 49:1, 113-132.
  Moeller Jorgen and Skaaning Svend-Erik (2013), ‘The Third Wave: Inside the Numbers’, in: Journal of democracy, 24: 4, 97-109;
  Noutcheva Gergana (2015), ‘Institutional Governance of European Neighbourhood Policy in the Wake of the Arab Spring’, in: Journal of European Integration, 37:1, 19-36
  Nuruzzaman Mohammed (2015), ‘The challenge of the Islamic State’, in: Global Affairs, 1:3, 297-304;
  Panebianco Stefania (2012), ‘Democratic Turmoil in the MENA Area: Challenges for the EU as an External Actor of Democracy Promotion’, in: Winds of Democratic Change in the Mediterranean? Processes, Actors and possible Outcomes, edited by Stefania Panebianco and Rosa Rossi, Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino, 2012, pp. 151-169.
  Phillips Andrew (2014), ‘The Islamic State's challenge to international order’, in: Australian Journal of International Affairs, 68:5, 495-498.
  Schumacher Tobias (2015), ‘Uncertainty at the EU's borders: narratives of EU external relations in the revised European Neighbourhood Policy towards the southern borderlands’, in: European Security, 24:3, 381-401.

• EuroMediterranean Relations

  Students' presentations are based upon selected readings. Academic articles are yearly updated. Samples.

  Euro-Mediterranean relations

  Bicchi Federica (2011), ‘The Union for the Mediterranean, or the Changing Context of Euro-Mediterranean Relations’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 16:1, 3-19
  Bicchi Federica (2014), ‘The Politics of Foreign Aid and the European Neighbourhood Policy Post-Arab Spring: ‘More fore More’ or Less of the Same?’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 318-332
  Delgado Mireia (2011), ‘France and the Union for the Mediterranean: Individualism versus Cooperation’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 16: 1, 39-57
  Gillespie Richard (2008), ‘A 'Union for the Mediterranean' … or for the EU?’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 13, 2, 277-286
  Gillespie Richard (2011), ‘Adapting to French ‘Leadership’? Spain's Role in the Union for the Mediterranean’, in “Mediterranean Politics”, 16: 1, 59-78?
  Gillespie Richard (2013), ‘The Challenge of Co-ownership in the Euro- Mediterranean Space’, in: Geopolitics, 18:1, 178-197
  Holden Patrick (2011), ‘A New Beginning? Does the Union for the Mediterranean Herald a New Functionalist Approach to Co-operation in the Region?’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 16: 1, 155-169
  Hollis Rosemary (2011), ‘The UfM and the Middle East ‘Peace Process’: An Unhappy Symbiosis’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 16: 1, 99-116
  Hunt Diana (2011), ‘The UfM and Development Prospects in the Mediterranean: Making a Real Difference?’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 16: 1, 171-192
  Johansson-Nogués Elisabeth (2011), ‘The UfM's Institutional Structure: Making Inroads towards ‘Co- Ownership’?’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 16: 1, 21-38
  Panebianco Stefania (2008), ‘EU involvement in the Mediterranean: changing priorities and strategies’, in: ISIG JOURNAL, 17: 3-4, 115-128
  Panebianco Stefania (2010), ‘Volatile Regionalism in the Mediterranean Area’, in Dagmar Rottsches (ed), L’Europe en formation. Le partenariat euro-méditerranéen: La fin d’une vision ?, Special issue on The EU and the Mediterranean, n. 356, pp 153-167
  Schumacher Tobias (2011), ‘Germany and Central and Eastern European Countries: Laggards or Veto-Players?’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 16: 1, 79–98.
  Seeberg Peter (2010), ‘Union for the Mediterranean— Pragmatic Multilateralism and the Depoliticization of EU-Middle Eastern Relations’, in: Middle East Critique, 19: 3, 287–302.

  The EU as an international actor
  Brummer Klaus (2009), ‘Imposing Sanctions: The Not So ‘Normative Power Europe’, in: European Foreign Affairs Review, 14, 191-207
  Ferreira Nunes Isabel (2011), ‘Civilian, Normative, and Ethical Power Europe: Role Claims and EU Discourses,’ in: European Foreign Affairs Review, 16: 1-20
  Giusti Serena & Fassi Enrico (2014), ‘The European Endowment for Democracy and Democracy Promotion in the EU Neighbourhood’, in: The International Spectator, 49:4, 112-129
  Keukeleire Stephan & Delreux Tom (2015), ‘Competing structural powers and challenges for the EU's structural foreign policy’, in: Global Affairs, 1:1, 43-50
  Lavenex Sandra & Schimmelfennig Frank (2011), ‘EU democracy promotion in the neighbourhood: from leverage to governance?’, in: Democratization, 18:4, 885–909
  Mouhib Leila (2014), ‘EU Democracy Promotion in Tunisia and Morocco: Between Contextual Changes and Structural Continuity’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 351-372
  Pace Michelle (2014), ‘The EU’s Interpretation of the ‘Arab Uprisings’: Understanding the Different Visions about Democratic Change in EU-MENA Relations’, in: Journal of Common Market Studies, 52: 5, 969–984
  Voelkel Jan Claudius (2014), ‘More for More, Less for Less – More or Less: A Critique of the EU’s Arab Spring Response a` la Cinderella’, in: European Foreign Affairs Review, 19, 2: 263–282

  Region-building processes, cooperation and regional leadership
  Attinà Fulvio (2003), ‘The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership assessed: the realist and liberal views’, in: European Foreign Affairs Review, 8: 2, 181-200.
  Ayata Bilgin (2015), ‘Turkish Foreign Policy in a Changing Arab World: Rise and Fall of a Regional Actor?’, in: Journal of European Integration, 37:1, 95-112.
  Comelli Michele (2010), ‘Sub-regional Cooperation around the Mediterranean and the Role of the EU’, in: European foreign affairs review, 15: 3, 385-401
  Gu?nay Defne (2014), ‘Europeanization of State Capacity and Foreign Policy: Turkey in the Middle East’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:2, 220-237
  Heydemann Steven (2014), ‘America's Response to the Arab Uprisings: US Foreign Assistance in an Era of Ambivalence’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 299-317
  Huber Daniela (2015), ‘A Pragmatic Actor — The US Response to the Arab Uprisings’, in: Journal of European Integration, 37:1, 57-75.
  Isaac Sally Khalifa (2014), ‘Explaining the Patterns of the Gulf Monarchies' Assistance after the Arab Uprisings’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 413-430
  Kausch Kristina and Youngs Richard (2009), ‘The end of the Euro-Mediterranean vision’, in: International Affairs, 85: 5, 963–975
  Öni? Ziya (2014), ‘Turkey and the Arab Revolutions: Boundaries of Regional Power Influence in a Turbulent Middle East’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:2, 203-219
  Sun Degang and Zoubir Yahia (2014), ‘China’s Response to the Revolts in the Arab World: A Case of Pragmatic Diplomacy’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:1, 2-20

  The Arab Spring, Democratization and persistent Authoritarianism in the MENA area
  Adam Hanieh (2015), ‘Shifting Priorities or Business as Usual? Continuity and Change in the post-2011 IMF and World Bank Engagement with Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt’, in: British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42:1, 119-134
  Altuni?ik Meliha Benli (2014), ‘Turkey as an ‘Emerging Donor’ and the Arab Uprisings’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 333-350
  Amichai Magen (2015), ‘Comparative Assessment of Israel’s Foreign Policy Response to the ‘Arab Spring’, in: Journal of European Integration, 37:1, 113-133
  Attinà Fulvio (2015), ‘Diversity in Unity. The European Union and Member States Emergency Aid to the Countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region’, in: Romanian Journal of European Affairs, 15: 2, June
  Börzel Tanja A., Risse Thomas and Dandashly Assem (2015), ‘The EU, External Actors, and the Arabellions: Much Ado About (Almost) Nothing’, in: Journal of European Integration, 37:1, 135- 153.
  Brown Nathan J. (2013), ‘Egypt’s Failed Transition’, in: Journal of Democracy, 24: 4, 45-58.
  Buehler Matt (2015), ‘Labour Demands, Regime Concessions: Moroccan Unions and the Arab Uprising,’ in: British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42:1, 88-103.
  Cavatorta Francesco (2015a), ‘No Democratic Change… and Yet No Authoritarian Continuity: The Inter-paradigm Debate and North Africa After the Uprisings’, in: British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42:1, 135-145.
  Cavatorta Francesco (2015b), Authoritarian Stability through Perpetual Democratisation, IAI WORKING PAPERS 15 | 43 - OCTOBER 2015
  Challand Benoit (2014), ‘Revisiting Aid in the Arab Middle East’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 281-298
  Diamond Larry (2010), ‘Why are there no Arab Democracies’, in: Journal of Democracy, 21: 1, 93-104.
  Donker Teije Hidde (2013), ‘Re-emerging Islamism in Tunisia: Repositioning Religion in Politics and Society’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 18:2, 207-224
  Hanau Santini Ruth & Hassan Oz (2012), ‘Transatlantic Democracy Promotion and the Arab Spring’, in: The International Spectator, 47:3, 65-82.
  Haynes Jeffrey (2013), ‘The ‘Arab Uprising’, Islamists and Democratization’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 18:2, 170-188.
  Hinnebusch Raymond (2015), ‘Change and Continuity after the Arab Uprising: The Consequences of State Formation in Arab North African States’, in: British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42:1, 12-30
  Holger Albrecht (2015), ‘Does Coup-Proofing Work? Political–Military Relations in Authoritarian Regimes amid the Arab Uprisings’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 20:1, 36-54
  Joffé George (2011), ‘The Arab Spring in North Africa: origins and prospects’, in: The Journal of North African Studies, 16: 4, 507-532
  Khaled Amin (2014), ‘International Assistance to Egypt after the 2011 and 2013 Uprisings: More Politics and Less Development’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 392-412
  Masoud Tarek (2015), ‘Has the Door Closed on Arab Democracy?’, in: Journal of Democracy, 26: 1, pp. 74-87
  Mather Yassamine (2014), ‘The Arab Spring and its Unexpected Consequences’, in: Critique: Journal of Socialist Theory, 42:1, 73-86
  Merone Fabio (2015), ‘Enduring Class Struggle in Tunisia: The Fight for Identity beyond Political Islam’, in: British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42:1, 74-87
  Michou Hélène, Soler i Lecha Eduard & Torreblanca José Ignacio (2014), ‘Supporting the Transitions in North Africa: The Case for a Joined-Up Approach’, in: The International Spectator, 49:3, 69-87
  O’Donnell Guillermo A. (2001), ‘Democratic Theory and Comparative Politics’, in: Studies in Comparative International Development, 36: 1
  Ojeda García Raquel and Suárez Collado Ángela (2015), ‘The Project of Advanced Regionalisation in Morocco: Analysis of a Lampedusian Reform’, in: British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42:1, 46-58
  Pahwa Sumita (2013), ‘Secularizing Islamism and Islamizing Democracy: The Political and Ideational Evolution of the Egyptian Muslim Brothers 1984–2012’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 18:2, 189-206
  Parolin Gianluca P. (2015), ‘Constitutions against Revolutions: Political Participation in North Africa’, in: British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42:1, 31-45
  Roy Olivier (2012), ‘The Transformation of the Arab World’, in: Journal of Democracy, 23: 3, 5-18
  Saideman Stephen M. (2012), ‘When Conflict Spreads: Arab Spring and the Limits of Diffusion’, in: International Interactions, 38:5, 713-722
  Sami Zemni (2015), ‘The Extraordinary Politics of the Tunisian Revolution: The Process of Constitution Making’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 20:1, 1-17
  Stepan Alfred (2012), ‘Tunisia’s Transition and the Twin Tolerations’, in: Journal of Democracy, 23:2, 89-103
  Stepan Alfred and Linz Juan J. (2013), ‘Democratization theory and the “Arab Spring”’, in: Journal of Democracy, 24: 2, 15-30
  Tavana Daniel L. (2011), ‘Party proliferation and electoral transition in post-Mubarak Egypt’, in: The Journal of North African Studies, 16: 4, 555-571
  Teti Andrea (2012a), ‘Beyond Lies the Wub: The Challenges of (Post)Democratization’, in: Middle East Critique, 21:1, 5-24
  Teti Andrea (2012b), ‘The EU’s First Response to the ‘Arab Spring’: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 17: 3, 266–284

  Migration
  Ambrosini Maurizio (2014), ‘Migration and Transnational Commitment: Some Evidence from the Italian Case’, in: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 40:4, 619-637
  Andrew Geddes (2015), ‘Governing migration from a distance: interactions between climate, migration, and security in the South Mediterranean’, in: European Security, 24:3, 473-490
  Barbulescu Roxana & Beaudonnet Laurie (2014), ‘Protecting Us, Protecting Europe? Public Concern about Immigration and Declining Support for European Integration in Italy’, in: Perspectives on European Politics and Society, 15:2, 216-237
  Bardak Ummuhan (2015), Continuity and Change in Youth Migration Patterns from the Mediterranean, IAI WORKING PAPERS 15 | 09 - APRIL 2015
  Collyer Michael (2012), ‘Migrants as strategic actors in the EU's global approach to migration and mobility’, in: Global Networks, 12: 4, 505-524
  de Haas Hein (2011), ‘Mediterranean migration futures: Patterns, drivers and scenarios’, in: Global Environmental Change, 21: 1 (supplement), 59-69
  Ekelund Helena (2014), ‘The Establishment of FRONTEX: A New Institutionalist Approach’, in: Journal of European Integration, 36:2, 99-116
  Fargues Philippe and Fandrich Christine (2012), Migration after the Arab Spring, MPC Research Report 2012/09, European University Institute, Florence
  Lutterbeck Derek (2006), ‘Policing Migration in the Mediterranean’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 11:1, 59-82
  Lutterbeck Derek (2009), ‘Small Frontier Island: Malta and the Challenge of Irregular Immigration’, in: Mediterranean Quarterly, 20:1, 119-144
  Maisenbacher Julia (2015), ‘The Political Economy of Mobility Partnerships – Structural Power in the EU's External Migration Policy’, in: New Political Economy, 20:6, 871-893
  Mallia Patricia (2013), The Challenges of Irregular Maritime Migration, Jean Monnet Occasional Paper No. 4/2013, University of Malta
  Neal Andrew W. (2009), ‘Securitization and Risk at the EU Border: The Origins of FRONTEX’, in: Journal of Common Market Studies, 47:2, 333-356
  Pace Roderick (2013), Migration in the Central Mediterranean, Jean Monnet Occasional Paper n. 02/2013, University of Malta
  Panebianco Stefania & Marcello Carammia (2009), ‘The EU as a Selective Migration-Controller in the Mediterranean? EU Political Discourse, Regional Cooperation and Migration Flows’, in Ángel Chueca, Víctor Luis Gutiérrez and Irene Blázquez (eds), Las migraciones internacionales en el Mediterráneo y Unión Europea, Huygens Editorial, Barcelona, 73-102
  Pollak Johannes and Slominski Peter (2009), ‘Experimentalist but not Accountable Governance? The Role of Frontex in Managing the EU’s External Borders’, in: West European Politics, 32:5, 904–924.
  Rijpma Jorrit & Vermeulen Mathias (2015), ‘EUROSUR: saving lives or building borders?’, in: European Security, 24:3, 454-472
  Toaldo Mattia (2015), Migrations Through and From Libya: A Mediterranean Challenge, IAI WORKING PAPERS, 15 | 14 - MAY 2015
  Triandafyllidou Anna & Dimitriadi Angeliki (2014), ‘Deterrence and Protection in the EU’s Migration Policy’, in: The International Spectator, 49:4, 146-162
  Wolff Sarah (2015), Migration and Refugee Governance in the Mediterranean: Europe and International Organisations at a Crossroads IAI WORKING PAPERS 15 | 42 - OCTOBER 2015
  Wunderlich Daniel (2012), ‘The limits of external governance: implementing EU external migration policy’, in: Journal of European Public Policy, 19:9, 1414-1433

  Security issues
  Attinà Fulvio (2013), ‘Mediterranean Security Revisited’, in: Democracy and Security, 9, 1-2, 120-136.
  Kartas Moncef (2014), ‘Foreign Aid and Security Sector Reform in Tunisia: Resistance and Autonomy of the Security Forces’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:3, 373-391
  Kienzle Benjamin (2014), ‘The New Face of EU Security Policies? Analysing the Normative Patterns of EU Non-Proliferation Policies in the Southern Mediterranean’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:1, 40-58

  Energy security
  Ayla Gu?rel & Laura Le Cornu (2014), ‘Can Gas Catalyse Peace in the Eastern Mediterranean?’, in: The International Spectator, 49:2, 11-33
  Cambini Carlo & Franzi Donata (2014), ‘Assessing the EU Pressure for Rules Change: The Perceptions of Southern Mediterranean Energy Regulators’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 19:1, 59-81
  Michael Leigh (2014), ‘Energy – A Geopolitical Game Changer?’, in: The International Spectator, 49:2, 1-10
  Nadejda Komendantova, Stefan Pfenninger & Anthony Patt (2014), ‘Governance Barriers to Renewable Energy in North Africa’, in: The International Spectator, 49:2, 50-65
  Tholens Simone (2014), ‘An EU–South Mediterranean Energy Community: The Right Policy for the Right Region?’, in: The International Spectator, 49:2, 34-49

  Conflits, Civil wars and R2P
  Bellamy Alex J (2013), ‘The Responsibility to Protect: Added value or hot air?’, in: Cooperation and Conflict, 1-25
  bin Talal El Hassan and Schwarz Rolf (2013), ‘The Responsibility to Protect and the Arab World: An Emerging International Norm?’, in: Contemporary Security Policy, 34:1, 1-15
  Brahimi Alia (2011), ‘Libya's Revolution’, in: The Journal of North African Studies, 16:4, 605-624
  Capassso Matteo (2013), ‘Understanding Libya's ‘Revolution’ through Transformation of the Jamahiriyya into a State of Exception’, in: Middle East Critique, 1-15.
  Christou Odysseas and Adamides Constantinos (2013), ‘Energy securitization and desecuritization in the New Middle East’, in: Security Dialogue, 44: 5-6, 507-522.
  Cuttitta Paolo (2014), ‘Borderizing’ the Island Setting and Narratives of the Lampedusa ‘Border Play’, in: ACME: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies, 13:2, 196-219
  Davidson Jason W. (2013), ‘France, Britain and the Intervention in Libya: an integrated analysis’, in: Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 26:2, 310-329
  Doeser Fredrik (2014), ‘Sweden’s Libya decision: A Case of Humanitarian Intervention’, in: International Politics, 51: 2, 196–213
  Fabbrini Sergio (2014), ‘The European Union and the Libyan Crisis’, in: International Politics, 51:2, 177–195.
  Gaub Florence (2014), ‘The EU and Libya and the Art of the Possible, in: The International Spectator, 49:3, 40-53
  Koenig Nicole (2014), ‘Between conflict management and role conflict: the EU in the Libyan crisis’, in: European Security, 23:3, 250-269
  Michela Ceccorulli & Fabrizio Coticchia (2015), ‘Multidimensional Threats and Military Engagement: The Case of the Italian Intervention in Libya’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 20:3, 303-321
  Seeberg Peter (2014), ‘The EU and the Syrian Crisis: The Use of Sanctions and the Regime's Strategy for Survival’, in: Mediterranean Politics, 20:1, 18-35
  Strazzari Francesco (2014), ‘Libyan Arms and Regional Instability’, in: The International Spectator, 49:3, 54-68