Beyond the Europeanization of Greece and Turkey : The Impact of Business Groups and Non-Governmental Actors

Many contemporary studies of Greek-Turkish relations focusaed on the security-related, conflict-resolution based issues. In contrast, the objective of this book is to assess the impact of business groups and non-governmental actors on the Europeanization of Greece and Turkey The findings of the study are quite astonishing. Greek-Turkish relations entered into a new orbit of rapprochement given the set of incentives provided by the EU, the civil diplomacy in the aftermath of the twin earthquakes in 1999, and soaring business interests at both sides of the Aegean. In this respect, the role of the EU has been instrumental in catalyzing social and business rapprochement aside the political rapprochement. Finally, the trajectory of social and business rapprochement strongly indicate that Greek-Turkish relations have reached such a momentum that a sharp return of the relations in the forthcoming future is barely conceivable.