Introduction: Power, Process and Crisis

Abstract

On 3 March 1974, a Turkish Airline (THY-Turk Hava Yollari) DC10 initiated its Istanbul-Paris-London flight with about 200 passengers on board. Most were vacationers; 50 were going to Paris. Normally, few new travellers boarded THY for its Paris-London leg; the Paris stop was mostly a maintenance-necessitated ‘pit-stop’. This time was different. A recent strike had grounded British European Airlines and wreaked havoc with flights all over Europe. Travellers attempting to return to London were forced into all kinds of re-routings, many through Paris’ Orly International Airport. Once there, a great rush was on for any flight with a London destination. Consequently, THY Flight 981 started its takeoff roll with only 11 empty seats.

The central theme of international relations is not evil but tragedy. States often share a common interest, but the structure of the situation prevents them from bringing about the mutually desired situation. (Jervis, 1983: 20)