1st Edition
US Security Interests in the ‘New Eastern Mediterranean’ Balancing Russia in a Post-Unipolar World
Chapter 1: Introduction: US Response to Russian Influence in a Shifting Eastern Mediterranean Landscape
Chapter 2: A Theoretical Framework
Chapter 3: The Fading "Unipolar Moment" and the Return of Great Power Balancing
Chapter 4: Turkey-Greece-Cyprus: US interests in the "Eastern Mediterranean fire triangle", 1947–2010
Chapter 5: The "new Eastern Mediterranean" and the USA
Chapter 6: Russia in the "Eastern Mediterranean Fire Triangle"
Chapter 7: US Strategic Reorientation and the "New Eastern Mediterranean"
Chapter 8: Conclusions: Balancing Russia in the "New Eastern Mediterranean" and Future Challenges
Biography
Dr. Michalis Kontos is Associate Professor at the Department of Politics and Governance of the University of Nicosia. He is Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean Review (BSEMR). He is the author of monographs, chapters in edited volumes, and articles published in international peer-reviewed journals. He has participated in many international conferences and has taught under Erasmus+ mobility schemes at the Universities of The Hague (Netherlands), Piraeus (Greece), and Salerno (Italy).
"This timely book provides an objective framework of analysis of regional dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean.The publication assesses evolving US foreign policy strategic interests including relations with Turkey, Greece and Cyprus.Of particular interest is the analysis of emerging alignments of great power geo-political realities in this part of the world.The book is a must read for all students and scholars of international relations and security studies and all professionals interested in comprehending US foreign policy and Mediterranean security challenges in the twenty first century."
- Prof. Stephen Calleya, Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, University of Malta
" US foreign policy in the post-unipolar era stands as one of the most compelling subjects in global affairs, and the Eastern Mediterranean—a region undergoing profound transformation—has emerged as a key arena of US-Russia competition. In this timely and insightful work, Dr Michalis Kontos offers a masterful analysis of this evolving geopolitical landscape. With deep knowledge of regional dynamics, US strategic shifts, and robust theoretical grounding, he skillfully captures the essence of great power rivalry in the region and globally and their cooperation with regional actors. Drawing on systemic theory, the concept of soft balancing, and the complexities of international competition, this book is rich in evidence and sharp in analysis. It is essential reading for researchers, students, and policy-makers interested in US strategy, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the shifting contours of global power."
- Dr Revecca Pedi, University of Macedonia
“A well-argued book which explores the complexities of balancing and order maintenance in the contemporary era. The case of the US soft and hard balancing strategies in the Eastern Mediterranean offers a very useful analysis for scholars and practitioners alike in order to navigate the power transition challenges we face today.”
- T.V. Paul, Distinguished James McGill Professor , McGill University
