The overall purpose of this thesis is to analyze the impact of the Palestinian refugees on Lebanese politics. The role of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is discussed within the framework of explaining the political character of the Lebanese state. In this context the Lebanese state&rsquo / s perception concerning the Palestinians refugees in Lebanon is analyzed through explaining the living conditions of the refugees and the Palestinian military and political activities in Lebanon as well as the restrictions of the Lebanese laws and regulations on the Palestinian refugees. It is argued that the Lebanese state follows discriminitary policies against the existence of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

This thesis aims to analyze the relationship between two main inspiration sources of the Arab world, both emerged in Egypt: Gamal Abdel Nasser and the Muslim Brotherhood. The focus is defined as the relationship between the Egyptian state of Nasser&rsquo / s era and the Muslim Brotherhood / hence the time period is determined to be between 1952 and 1970. The reason why I have chosen this subject is that for the Middle East in general, and Egypt in particular, both actors have played a significant role in the path of deposing Western colonialism and engaging with modernism. On the other hand as both sides could provide alternative theories and means of governance against each other, the relationship seems more than interesting / especially regarding region&rsquo / s endeavor of providing a strong response and local alternatives to dominant Western values of modernism, it seems more than worthy to focus on these two main players and their interactions with each other.

This thesis examines the impact of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania&rsquo / s European accession process on the Russian oriented citizenship policies and laws of these states from a comparative perspective. The thesis also explores the impact of communist heritage and the construction of the post-communist state order within the context of minority rights / in addition to the consistency of the citizenship laws in the Baltic states with the European Union norms, which require the respect for and protection of minorities. The main argument of this thesis is that notwithstanding the fact that the European accession process has promoted minority rights in the three Baltic states significantly, the ethnic Russians in the Baltic states have been partially accommodated during the Baltic states&rsquo / accession into the EU. The ethnic Russians have not been entirely accommodated due to Baltic states&rsquo / fear from potential influence of the Russian Federation over the ethnic Russians in these Baltic states.

ABSTRACT THE ASPECTS OF CENTRAL ASIAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AFTER 1991: THE REASONS OF INEFFICIENCY Manasov, Zamirbek M. Sc., Department of Eurasian Studies Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sen September 2008, 105 pages This study seeks to analyze the dimensions of economic integration in the Central Asia after the independence. The collapse of the Soviet Union opened new perspectives for Central Asian states and gave chance to follow national policies independently. However, used to be parts of the big economic complex of the former Soviet Union and being lack of government experience in public and private economy made them to cooperate with old and new markets. The study argues that although there were established numbers of economic integration or cooperation institutions none of them could meet the region&rsquo / s economic expectations and needs. They were just results of unstable economic, political and social transition policies. Therefore well-functioning economy oriented cooperation institutions have not been established during the transition period due to different reasons. Analyzing of these reasons is the main goal of thesis. This study also argues that transition period put Central Asian states into the complexity of choices / economic interdependence or socio-political independence. Pushing forward previous choice offers lowering barriers to regional trade and transit, and to mobility of capital and knowledge and, to access to world market. Whereas, political and social development in national level does not suits previous one.

This thesis analyses how Hezbollah has perceived Israel since its establishment. In this study it is argued that Israel is the main enemy of and source of hatred for Hezbollah. The references of this overall statement are the ideology and political, social and military history of Hezbollah. The armed struggle of Hezbollah against Israel started with the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon evolved into both a political participation with the continued armed militia in the period between 1982 to today. During this period, in addition to its armed conflict with Israel, Hezbollah came on the stage with social services for Lebanese society and political propaganda in Lebanese elections. The intersection point of these three identities is the endless encouragement of Hezbollah for a determined resistance against Israel. While on the one hand Hezbollah defines Israel to be the most dangerous threat for the world, in addition to being a prominent enemy for the Arab and Muslim community / on the other hand Israel regards Hezbollah to be the highest impact menace. Consequently, the thesis is finalized with outputs and predictions taking all historical and ideological aspects into concern.

This thesis aims at evaluating the impacts of European Union Citizenship on the development process of European political identity. With the introduction of European Union citizenship upon the ratification of the Treaty of Maastricht, a breath of fresh air has been brought to the ongoing debates and a new form of citizenship has taken its place in the literature. The &ldquo / workers&rsquo / right to free movement &rdquo / which was the core of the push for European citizenship, has played a pioneering role for the rights engendered thereunder. In due course, new rights have been entitled to the citizens and the scope of these rights has been broadened. From the 1950s to the present, EU citizenship has continued its evolution and, rather than being referred to as a common market citizenship, it became a highly political concept during this period. In the context of these developments, this thesis view the historical background and the legal framework of the concept and, in light of these insights, analyze the impacts of European Union citizenship upon the formation of European political identity. In this study, European citizenship has been defined as a form of political identity, whose emergence , in turn , was a consequence of citizens&rsquo / relationships with the political entity-European Union- . On account of the inadequacy of the elements that constitutes the identity under normal conditions , the existence of the political identity has been emphasized as a the key concept in order to attach the citizens to the political entity and the role of the citizenship has been stated as comprising a common basis within the EU in order to constitute a political identity.

This thesis examined how Turkish perception of insecurity, which was based on its suspicions about Greek and Bulgarian intentions and politics towards its territorial integrity and stability of its regime, shaped its view of Turkish/Muslim minorities living in these two states in the early Republican period. Using a wealth of archival material and newspapers, it questioned to what extent these physical and ideological concerns of the Turkish Republic played a role in its approach to these minorities in the period between 1923 and 1938. Turkey perceived the Greek and Bulgarian maltreatment of these minorities as a part of these states&rsquo / hostile intentions regarding the new Turkish state. Thus, what this thesis argued is that Turkey responded to pressure on Turkish/Muslim minorities in these two states not only because of humanitarian concerns but according to its security concern, which became an important factor to determine Turkish interventionist approach to the minority issues in Greece and Bulgaria in this period.

The Tanzimat period had been an era of political change and transformation for the Ottoman Empire as it introduced many new new tools in political arena, particularly to reach centralization and the whole period is widely debated in many successful studies. However, the implementation of the Tanzimat reforms in specific provinces are generally ignored. Similarly, 19th century civil turmoil in the Syrian provinces of the Ottoman Empire had been a subject that discussed frequently. However, in many studies the events are generally discussed only as a religious conflict between Muslims and Druzes rather than a reflection of a complex system of political and socio-economic factors. In this context, the role of the Tanzimat reforms are generally ignored. This study aims to adress these two points at the same time. First it focuses on the specific implementation of the Tanzimat reforms in Lebanon rather than the promised aspects of the package. It details how the reforms were implemented, why it was implemented in that specific form, what were the complaints and the results. Second, it tries to understand the civil war in Lebanon in terms of a complex web of state-society relations. It puts the state at the center of analysis and shows how the implementation of the reforms effected the factors that led to the civil war and its different dimensions.

ABSTRACT THE CHALLENGE OF BECOMING AN IMMIGRATION COUNTRY. THE CASE OF GERMANY IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW LEGAL DRAFT ON IMMIGRATION. Y&uuml / ce, Yasemin M.Sc., Department of Political Science and Public Admistration Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Okyayuz November 2003, 137 pages This study is looking for an answer to the question &ldquo / Is Germany an immigration country?&rdquo / that has been re-put on the agenda with the new immigration law. At the same time, different dimensions of the immigration country concept have been explained so that the evolution of the characterstics of immigration and Germany&rsquo / s immigration history can be investigated in order to explain this question. The main argument of this study is that Germany has become a de facto immigration country by time and now with the new immigration law it will be recognizing this de facto phenomenon politically. Germany&rsquo / s state system and structure is different from classical immigration countries and moreover it has a strong nation-state tradition that is a big barrier for its becoming an immigration country. Thus, while immigration issue in Germany is debated, the issues stemming from this nation-state tradition will be debated as well. Today, international developments and social dynamics force Germany to redefine itself. Germany is now debating the concept &ldquo / Germany as an immigration country&rdquo / and the new immigration law. Keywords: Immigration Country, The New German Legal Draft on Immigration, Migration in Germany

This study aims to analyzing the role of Islam, regionalism, and external factors (the involvement of the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran) in the Tajik Civil War (1992-97). It analyzes all these three factors one by one. In the thesis, it is argued that all of the three factors played an active and equal role in the emergence of the war and that in the case of the absence of any of these factors, the Tajik Civil War would not erupt. As such, none of the factors is considered to be the only player on its own and none of the factors is considered to be the basic result of other two factors.