BÖLGESEL GÜVENLİK KOMPLEKSİ TEORİSİ BAĞLAMINDA DOĞU AKDENİZ KOMPLEKSİ

Due to the various struggles that have taken place in the region in the past, the Eastern Mediterranean, which has often acted as a weathervane in determining the direction of international developments, continues to fulfill its historical role amid great turmoil within the struggle of contemporary regional and global powers. The starting point of the article has been to find a valid answer to the question: “What are the security issues of the Eastern Mediterranean from the perspective of the Regional Security Complex Theory, and what are the characteristics of the relationships between these issues?” within the overall complexity of the region. In addressing the question, the "Regional Security Complex Theory," a product of the Copenhagen School, has been chosen due to its incorporation of various international relations theories, its broad perspective on security perceptions, and its regional-level approach. In the article, analyses at local, regional, and global levels have been conducted regarding the region, which is not currently classified as a distinct regional structure within the theory. The findings obtained from these analyses have been placed within the framework of the "criteria for being a Regional Security Complex." In this way, the argument that "the Eastern Mediterranean region can be better explained when considered as a Regional Security Complex" has been attempted to be proven. As a result, in the article, which employs a qualitative research method, it is anticipated that the security issues in the region can be better explained through the "Eastern Mediterranean Regional Security Complex" and that a contribution can be made to the theory, which leaves room for change.