Ioakimidis notes that an often virulent press provokes public opinion, which on occasion has led to irresponsible decision making by the country's leaders and in turn to isolation in the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. As with the other authors', Ioakimidis's analysis ends with 1996. It may well be that the technocratic but highly professional Costas Simitis is providing a break with the tradition described here and that Greece may look forward at least to the prospect of more responsible leadership. One other chapter is particularly worthy of note. He notes that Turkey's Mediterranean policy is secondary to its policies toward Western and Central Asia, the Black Sea, and the Balkans, a perspective inadequately understood in Brussels.
Turkish officials have a complex interplay of issues to consider in formulating foreign policy.
Other contributions to this volume are not as interesting. Some chapters, such as those on Europe and the Middle East peace process and on Portugal, are competent and informative but do not break new ground. Inconsistency of approach is perhaps unavoidable in analyzing such a diversity of countries. But the differences in approach encountered in this book require the reader to adjust at virtually each new chapter. Some chapters are lean and analytical, obviously intended for policy makers.