The Middle East Regional System and its implications for the Egyptian-Turkish relations (2013-2021)

The thesis examines the extent to which the Middle East regional system (MERS) contributed to influencing the path of Egyptian-Turkish relations during the period from 2013 to 2021, based on systems approach in international relations. The thesis starts with an introduction includes the methodology and the nature of the Middle East as a regional system, in addition to the development of the bilateral relations between the two countries during 2013 and 2021, while the four main chapters address how MERS contributed to influencing these relations, depending on the four components of regional system, the structure, actors, institutions, and interactions. The thesis concludes that while the internal factor represented in the overthrow of Morsi's rule in Egypt was the reason of the outbreak of the tension in Egyptian-Turkish relations in July 2013, the external factor, represented in MERS has contributed to, first, prolonging and deepening this tension during the period from 2013 to 2020, second, to calming this tension during 2021, and third to preventing the restoration of their diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level until the end of 2021. Finally, due to the two countries' position in the structure of the MERS as competitor regional powers, the regional factor pushes towards straining their relations. In this context, the researcher suggests some recommendations for the two countries to overcome the tension stemming from the regional environment, which can lead to maximizing the cooperation between them at the bilateral and regional levels.