The Research Of The Relations Between Greece Andturkey (1999-2014)

This paper consists of introduction, main body and conclusion of threemajor components. Introduction expounds the purpose and meaning ofthe topic and the domestic and foreign research dynamic.The main body is divided into four parts. The first part describes thedevelopment process of Greek-Turkish relations. Since1923, the bilateralrelations between Greece and Turkey has experienced three stages. Inthe first stage, from the1920s to the1950s, the relation between the twocountries was relatively moderate. In the second stage, from themid-1950s to the late1990s, overall, the two countries’ relation was intensions, but the two sides negotiated actively and the relationship wasease occasionally. Relations between the two countries come into aconflict-negotiation-conflict cycle. The third stage is from1999to now.With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, thegeopolitical environment has changed. The two countries begin tocooperate and the relationship starts to ease. In1999, Greece and Turkeyhad earthquake one after another. With the development of "earthquake diplomacy", the relations between the two countries has alleviated totally,cooperation in various fields has been strengthened. Greek-Turkishrelations entered a new period of development.The second part analyzes the performance of overall alleviatedbilateral relations. The two countries have cooperated and exchanged inaspects of politic, economic, military and so on. Politically, the politicalexchanges are frequent. First is frequent high-level visits and dialoguesbetween the governments; the second is the two sides have reached aseries of confidence-building measures clause. Economically, the twocountries have established close economical ties and the volume of tradehas increased sharply. Militarily, traditional threat cognition has weaken,both sides were no longer regarded each other as the main threat tonational security. The cooperation between the two countries in otherfields has also been strengthen, such as tourism, culture, environmentalprotection, trade and the fighting against organized crime, illegalimmigration, drug smuggling as well as terrorism.The third part mainly from national level and international levelanalyzes the reason why the relation between the two countries fully ease.From the point of domestic factors, this article analyzes mainly from thepolitical, economic, cultural, diplomatic and social of five aspects. Theprimary cause is the change of their domestic political environment andthe foreign policy is the real driving force. What’s more,the economic development of the two countries is the inevitable requirement,thechange of traditional concept and identity is profound reason and civilsociety exchanges between the two countries is the booster. From thepoint of international factors, regional instability makes the two sides tostrengthen cooperation and speed up the ease of relations between thetwo countries. NATO’s intervention in Kosovo crisis provides a goodopportunity to work for the two countries. In addition, the third partystrength is a catalyst to alleviate Greek-Turkish relations totally. TheEuropean Union plays an important role in abating the hostility betweenGreece and Turkey.The United States effectively curbs the bilateralwar.The United Nations is the active mediator between the two countries.The fourth part expounds the prospects of the development ofbilateral relations. Restricting factors of relations between the twocountries mainly consist of the heavy historical burden, the influence ofpublic opinion and the sensitive unsolved political issues. The history ofthe hostile relations between the two countries, distrust and suspicion ofeach other directly affect the modern bilateral relations. Their leaders ofthe two sides afraid of being labeled "accommodationist" and affectingtheir political status. When it comes to making a foreign policy, they arealways restricted by public opinion. The Cyprus problem and the Aegeansea dispute have been up in the air, and difficult to solve, there is no doubtthat they become the huge obstacle for the development of the relations between the two countries. Under the background of globalization,Greece and Turkey, as neighbors, can make mutual benefit only throughcooperation. The two countries need to get rid of the historical burden,change the sense of security, gradually enhance trust, solve the "highpolitics", adhere to both principle and flexibility, and keep the balancebetween the development of majority nationalism and state nationalism.Conclusion of this article makes a comprehensive summary. Therelations between the two countries turns from Hobbes culture to Locke’s,from the enemy to the competition. But the reconciliation between thetwo countries is still in its infancy and fragile. Normalization of relationsbetween the two countries completely will still take time.