Turkey’s Isolation from the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum: ideational mechanisms and material interests in Energy Politics

Abstract

The energy politics highlight rising tensions and new cooperative patterns in the Eastern Mediterranean region. We question the reasons for the lack of cooperation between Turkey and regional states during the regionalization process, in terms of offshore hydrocarbon resources development, between 2010 and 2020. In contrast to power-driven accounts for cooperation, we demonstrate the role of ideational mechanisms through framing analysis and process tracing. We argue that Turkey’s isolation from the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum and shifts in Turkish foreign policy preferences are explained plausibly by cognitive priors, redefined causal ideas, and emulation of exogenous ideas.