MEDITERRANEAN POLITICS

Learning Objectives

• Actors and Cooperation Processes
  Module 1 is conceived as a thorough introduction to the course. Thanks to compulsory readings illustrated and debated in class, it provides students with the analytical and methodological tools to understand ongoing political processes in the Mediterranean area. In particular, this Module stimulates their capacity to apply IR theoretical approaches and methodological tools to ongoing regional processes. Students must read all the related readings and comment them during the class discussion.
• EuroMediterranean Relations
  Module 2 allows students to focus upon specific topics that are investigated via oral presentations and with the drafting of written papers. This interactive method enables students to experience their autonomous analytical skills and challenge their colleagues through stimulating debates. This interactive methodology improves a lot the students’ oral skills and their capacity to defend their opinions. The written papers offer students the opportunity to elaborate original ideas and experience a scientific IR oriented approach to research.

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