...Brian Bates Copyright 2015 by Mediterranean Affairs, Inc. 2015 Herrin Judith : Margins and Metropolis: Authority across the Byzantine Empire . Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press , 2013 . 392 pages. ISBN 978-0-691-15301-8 . $39.95 . Brian Bates is a Washington, DC...

...Jamie Coomarasamy The essay summarizes a recent reporting trip by the author to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan for the BBC, during which he examined the reasons for and observed the practical impact of China’s growing influence in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. The author provides...

...Thanos Catsambas This essay summarizes developments since the outbreak of the Greek economic crisis in 2010 from the perspective of various myths that dominated the public discourse from 2010 to 2016. In the author's view, the perpetuation of these myths, which was partly the result of poor...

... with and the rest of the world respond to. The author asserts that Africa must engage the world community if it is interested in harnessing the full potential of its resources, as well as enjoying maximum output. The author argues that Africa is a friendly and profitable arena for investment and is moving away from...

... these have on Africa's development are examined. The authors argue that there are two very important perspectives—exploitation and opportunity—on China's role in Africa's development. The authors also argue that African countries must implement meaningful structural and policy changes that could enable them...

...J. Ndumbe Anyu; Samuel Moki The authors contend that the pervasiveness of piracy on the African coasts is threatening global security. Within Somalia, it is causing a disruption of food supplies, fostering internal conflict, and increasing the prices of basic commodities. Globally...

...Mohamed A. El-Khawas The author examines the steps taken by the new administration to resolve the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The search for a solution requires dealing with many players with conflicting interests and contradictory agendas. President Obama's relaunch of the Middle...

...Daniel Fiott This essay focuses on the degree to which Maltese foreign policy has become Europeanized because of its membership in the European Union. The author focuses on three trends resulting from the Europeanization process: first, the ways in which Malta's national policies and political...

...Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo The author, former deputy secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, reviews the current status of the transatlantic alliance and the evolving role of NATO as an irreplaceable peacekeeping structure with extensive obligations in asymmetrical warfare...

...Yossef Ben-Meir King Mohammed VI of Morocco has announced a national regionalization plan that includes the Western Sahara. Morocco's intention is to regionalize (or, essentially, decentralize) decision-making authority and management in socioeconomic development, political affairs, the judicial...

.... China's influence in the global financial system constitutes the core of the author's analysis. The author also describes the challenges faced by the US from China as a rising competitor for superpower status. Copyright 2011 by Mediterranean Affairs, Inc. 2011 Richard S. Williamson is a senior...

... suit. This author argues against this conventional wisdom. As a NATO member, Turkey is a special case. The analysis suggests that security is the main reason why countries pursue nuclear weapons. Egypt and Saudi Arabia (along with other Arab countries) have learned how to live with a perceived nuclear...

...Ioannis Mantzikos In December 1992, the United Nations Security Council, acting under chapter 7 of its charter, authorized the use of all necessary means to secure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia. In the collapsing landscape of that country, however, the intervention...

... highlighting the history of Israel’s defense strategy and reviewing the Arab Spring revolts, the authors find that the recent uprisings exacerbate several issues faced by Israel, including geopolitical relations with other countries in the region, energy issues, and growing threats presented by nonstate actors...

... of authoritarianism, under both the Pahlavi family and the ayatollahs, Iran has little experience with modern democratic institutions. It is the argument of the authors that without a fully formed civil society, the lack of progress toward democracy will be prolonged, unless the religious elite come to consider...

...Gawdat Bahgat Egypt holds limited proven oil and gas reserves. Increasingly, these hydrocarbon resources cannot meet the country’s rising energy demand. Consequently, Cairo has turned to nuclear and renewable power. In addition, the Egyptian authorities are under heavy pressure to restrain...

...Costas Melakopides Having previously applied the concept of pragmatic idealism to the “like-minded middle powers” during the Cold War, the author now aims to extend its application to great powers and even superpowers. This essay challenges the stereotypical realist conception of Russia’s Cyprus...

...Kostas Rontos; Luca Salvati; Petros Sioussiouras; Ioannis Vavouras The authors propose a classification of the perceived corruption levels of Mediterranean countries according to key political, economic, and social factors. While relevant empirical research has shown the extent of corruption...

...James Rodgers Drawing on the author's time as the BBC's correspondent in Gaza from 2002 to 2004, this essay offers a way of understanding more fully the situation in Gaza in 2013, after the recent elections in the United States and Israel and following the Arab uprisings. The core argument...

...George Bistis This essay traces the history of the Far Right in Greece, which is on the rise again almost four decades after the collapse of the military junta that ruled the Mediterranean country from 1967 to 1974. The author examines how the Golden Dawn party capitalized on Greek citizens...