Cyprus : diplomatic history and the clash of theory in international relations /
What are the mainsprings of international rivalry and conflict and how are they to be uncovered - by international relations theory, history or by the practice of diplomacy? Cyprus is ideal for thoroughly testing theory and practice. The island has been at the epicentre of international relations ri...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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London ; New York : New York :
I.B. Tauris ; Distributed in the United States and Canada exclusively by Palgrave Macmillan,
2010
London ; New York : New York : c2010 London ; New York : New York : 2010 |
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| Summary: | What are the mainsprings of international rivalry and conflict and how are they to be uncovered - by international relations theory, history or by the practice of diplomacy? Cyprus is ideal for thoroughly testing theory and practice. The island has been at the epicentre of international relations rivalry throughout its history from the later days of the Ottoman Empire, as a British protectorate and Crown Colony, during its struggle for independence, and in the Cold War as the key l̀istening post' for Britain and America in the rivalry with the Soviets. To this day Cyprus remains a geopolitical tinder-box with acute tension between Cyprus and Turkey over the Turkish occupation of a third of the island. Hostility has now been transferred to the forum of the EU, with Cyprus as a member and the US and Britain pushing for Turkey to join. Meanwhile in the geopolitical hinterland, Russia remains suspicious of the island's British bases which project NATO power in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East William Mallinson's approach in analysing Cyprus's problems and the dangers for international relations is unique. He applies practical hands-on experience of international diplomacy with academic research as an historian and international relations theorist. He considers the theoretical p̀aradigms' - realist, behavioural and structuralist - and analyses the latest documents released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the Freedom of Information Act. He takes readers through the tangled history of the island and explains the strategic ambitions of and close collaboration between the US and Britain. Most controversially, perhaps, Mallinson reveals how recently released resources show British foreknowledge of the Turkish invasion plans in 1974 - despite denial - and the fascinating secret paper, B̀ritish interests in the Eastern Mediterranean', setting out British and American ambitions, is revealed for the first time. Mallinson applies international theory to his detailed analysis of revealing documents - the life-blood of the historian of diplomacy - and shows how historical research provides the essential basis for international relations theory. --Book Jacket |
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| Physical Description: | xvi, 228 p. : ill. ; 25 cm xvi, 228 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (p. [215]-220) and index Includes bibliographical references and index |
| ISBN: | 1848854161 (hbk.) 1848854161 9781848854161 (hbk.) 9781848854161 |