The book, which has just been published by the Thomson Reuters – Aranzadi publishing house, is a collection of articles written by members of the Study Group on Fundamental Issues in Contemporary International Society at UIC Barcelona. 

As is stated in the summary of the book, it is “an analysis of the importance of the different actors involved in international society.  Specifically, the large problems and issues related to different states, particularly European states, are studied objectively and within a strong legal framework.  The question of Catalonia was the main focus of attention”. 

After the presentation, a seminar entitled “Turquía y el caleidoscopio de Oriente Medio” [Turkey and the Kaleidoscope of the Middle East], given by Miguel Ángel Medina, a researcher from the Charlemagne Institute of European Studies.  

As the speaker said, for centuries Turkey has been one of the main actors in the Middle East and it occupies an important position in terms of foreign affairs.  In that way, in the face of the emergence of the Islamic State, is has been natural for all eyes to be turned on this “Ottoman giant” in order to try to resolve this grave problem.  

However, so many diverse interests come into play in the case of Turkey, that the situation reminds you of a kaleidoscope. Professor Medina Abellán described to us in detail the various coordinates that Turkey moves in in its strategy for the Middle East, but he also underlined the fact that on various occasions the main motivation of Turkey to intervene in Syria and Iraq is control over Kurdistan.   

The seminar came at the end to a project set up by the Study Group on Fundamental Issues in Contemporary International Society at UIC Barcelona, on fundamental issues in contemporary international society over these first three years and at the same time. This project also established the first step for the next three-year period which will be dedicated to questions of European security.