The Middle East has been seen as one of the most volatile regions in the world. It appears to be the exception in the general global trend of peaceful co-operation, economic liberalization, and relative democratization. Is it destined to remain characterized by violent conflicts, authoritarian regimes and closed, inefficient economies? This text explores the current anatomy of regional co-operation and why it has often failed to take hold. It argues that focusing on international and regional factors alone is insufficient in explaining the prevailing instability in the region. Instead the authors highlight domestic factors as crucial to understanding conflict and co-operation in the Middle East. Using many examples and looking particularly at Turkey's experiences, this study shows why it is essential to mobilize domestic support for co-operation amongst countries and regions of the Middle East. Without such support from economic and social groups, inter-governmental co-operation is less likely to last. This study offers an alternative view of politics and international relations in the Middle East. The findings show that co-operation between many of the more open regimes, such as I