Power over the Sea: The Relevance of Neoclassical Realism to Euro-Mediterranean Relations

Abstract

The Barcelona Process and the European Neighbourhood Policy have often been considered inherently constructivist policies. This article maintains that power and the logics based on it are important in such policies and that the political dynamics at stake in the Mediterranean area offer an interesting occasion to reflect on the current relevance of the realist tradition. Drawing on classical and neoclassical realism, this research highlights that the realist perspective does not necessarily neglect ideational factors and the non-material dimension of power and it aims at showing that classical realism can be usefully updated to interpret phenomena of contemporary international politics such as Euro-Mediterranean relations.