Month: June 2016

THE ROLE OF ENERGY AS A GEOPOLITICAL FACTOR FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF GREEK-ISRAELI RELATIONS

Ioannis Th. MAZIS

Chair of the Faculty of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas, www.geo-mazis.gr
mazis@her.forthnet.gr

Ioannis P. SOTIROPOULOS

Research Fellow, Laboratory of Geo-cultural Analyses, of the Greater Middle East and Turkey, Faculty of Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas
ipshellas@hotmail.com

Abstract

During the current historical coincidence, the geostrategic conjunction of Greece-Cyprus-Israel is a reality, in order for the three states to cope in the best possible manner with the contemporary and future challenges in the arena of international and regional relations.  Having a common strategic perception of the geopolitical sub-system of the south-eastern Mediterranean, Athens, Nicosia and Jerusalem strengthen day by day their political, diplomatic, economic and military relations, aiming at the preservation of stability in the area, against any revisionist factor. For the aforementioned strategic alliance, the discovery, extraction and exploitation of the hydrocarbon neo-reserves within the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli consecutive Exclusive Economic Zones, (EEZs), is the dynamic catalyst that reinforces even further the allied cooperation and effectiveness.  Amidst the geopolitical transformation of the wider region of North Africa, Middle and Near East, the construction of the East Mediterranean Pipeline, (East-Med), is a common pursuit of the outmost significance, for the strategic alliance. Indeed, if the East-Med is realized, it will be able to transfer, in the first phase, the Israeli and Cypriot hydrocarbons from the off-shore neo-reserves via Greek sovereign territory and EEZ to Italy and central Europe, signaling EU’s gradual disengagement from the dependence on the Russian natural gas, allowing the EU to make its first steps of energy emancipation.  Despite Ankara’s attempt for rapprochement with Jerusalem, the official Israeli position heavily leans towards an Israel-Greek-Cypriot strategic alignment, as Israel’s national security constitute the ultimate long-term priority for Jerusalem. Above all, such a development will upgrade the geopolitical status of all the three states of the strategic alliance in the regional geopolitical as well as the supra-geopolitical system.

Keywords: East Mediterranean energy neo-reserves, Levantine Basin, natural gas-field Zohr, East Mediterranean pipeline-(East-Med), south-east Mediterranean geopolitical sub-system, Israel, Cyprus, Greece

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GEOPOLITICAL AXES IN IOANNIS MAZIS’S SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMME

Ioannis E. KOTOULAS

Researcher in Geopolitics, Laboratory of Geocultural Analyses of Broader Middle East and Turkey, Faculty of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, University of Athens
ioanniskot@turkmas.gr

Abstract

Ioannis Mazis, Professor of Economic Geography and Geopolitics at the Faculty of Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies of the University of Athens, is the creator of Modern Systemic Geopolitical Analysis in international bibliography. The academic publications included in the volume Dissertationes academicae geopoliticae (Papazisi, Athens 2015) examine various aspects of International Relations. In this paper we examine the spatial geopolitical orientation of states/empires and the definition of main axes of geopolitical influence in Ioannis Mazis’s Scientific Research Programme, as this is manifested in his academic articles, published in English, French and Italian.

Keywords: Ioannis Mazis, geopolitical axis, Scientific Research Programme, Modern Systemic Geopolitical Analysis, vertical axis, rectilinear axis, power projection

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ALTERNATIVE COURSES TO CONFLICT MANAGEMENT: SITUATIONAL, COGNITIVE, SPACE AND TIME DIMENSIONS

George VOSKOPOULOS

Associate Professor of European Studies, Head of the Department of International and European Studies, University of Macedonia
gvoskop@uom.edu.gr

Abstract

Conflict management involves a multilayer, inter-party, action-reaction process in order to eradicate or deal with friction within specific space and time environments and dimensions. In theoretical and practical terms it aims at reshaping or reformulat-ing negative input and eventually turning it into positive or manageable ones. The process is nominally going to produce non-zero-sum games and allow parties to adopt workable stands, positions and cognitive attitudes through among, other things, behavior changes and cognitive re-evaluations. Conflict management de-mands action in a complex situation most often within a limited time dimension. As set by a number of scholars in the past the aim is not to seek a perfect solution but a workable solution and this is of paramount importance.

Keywords: conflict, conflict resolution strategies, conflict dimensions

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