Greek-Turkish rapprochement : the impact of 'disaster diplomacy'? /James Ker-Lindsay.

Cover title

Includes bibliographic references

Reprinted from: Cambridge review of international affairs, autumn-winter, vol. xlv, no. 1

Spiral bound

This article challenges the widely held view that the Greek-Turkish rapprochement of 1999 was the direct result of the collaboration following the earthquakes that hit both countries that year. The high-level political and diplomatic efforts which form the basis of the improved relations and which preceded the earthquakes are examined. The article offers a deatiled account of the efforts at governmental and non-governmental levels to mitigate the effects of the disasters and illustrates the impact of the two disastrous events on public perceptions of the 'enemy' and on bilateral relations. The author asserts that disasters may have a multiplying and legitimising effect on diplomatic rapprochement