Contested State Identities and Regional Security in the Euro-Mediterranean Area [Hardcover]

Del Sarto argues that internal disputes over national identity limit the ability of states to participate in regional forums. This is a close look at problems faced in negotiating the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) as a regional security project, with particular attention to case studies of Israel, Egypt and Morocco.PART I: THE ARGUMENT AND ITS SETTING Region-building and contested State Identities Theoretical Framework Historical Background and Regional Perspective PART II: CASE STUDIES Israel Egypt Morocco

Del Sarto s study follows a very clear structure that employs simple terms to explain its hypothesis and findings. The central objective of this book never evades the reader, and Del Sarto s findings come almost as a natural conclusion . . .Del Sarto s book exhibits a balanced approach in a conceptually and notionally difficult question. - International Journal Middle East Studies

A highly original piece of work, demonstrating the importance of domestic factors, and more specifically disputes over state identity, in the making of foreign policy. This book is a major contribution to the academic literature, opening up a new International Relations pathway for the study of the EMP. Del Sarto brings out the political importance of her findings in a most convincing way. - Richard Gillespie, Editor, Mediterranean Politics

Suggesting a sophisticated and bold thesis, namely, that states cannot adopt a regional identity unless they feel relatively secure about their own identity, this theoretically provocative, empirically rich, and clearly written book will help change the way we think about Mediterranean pluralistic integration and its future prospects for success. The book also places Raffaella Del Sarto at the forefront of constructivist International Relations scholars doing theoretical and empirical research on European politics, particularly, Mediterranean regional politics. - Emanuel Adler, University of Tol2