Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Summer 2023

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 22:50:00 GMT

Insight Turkey has included in this issue valuable research that both reflects on Turkish foreign policy from historical perspectives and looks ahead to the future. This exploration is part of our third special issue of the year, commemorating the Centennial of the Republic of Türkiye and unveiling the vision of the Century of Türkiye. We are confident that the thought-provoking and enlightening discussions within this issue will greatly benefit our esteemed readers.

Turkish Foreign Policy at the Turn of the 'Century of Türkiye': Challenges, Vision, Objectives, and Transformation

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 22:49:00 GMT

Türkiye is embarking on the ‘Century of Türkiye’ at a time of rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics coupled with ever-increasing global challenges, culminating in a complex era defined by multiple crises. Against this background, Türkiye stands out as a regional constructive and system-transformer actor seeking to contribute to a more inclusive and effective international system capable of addressing current global and regional challenges. Türkiye will continue to secure its national interests in a volatile regional and global environment, while shaping conditions for sustainable peace and development in its neighborhood and beyond. It will work towards institutionalizing its foreign relations on a structural basis, developing an environment of prosperity and advancing its global goals. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be the powerhouse in all these efforts, building upon its centuries-long tradition and going through an organizational transformation to ensure the swift and full implementation of the vision of the Century of Türkiye.

Re-Defining Türkiye’s International Relations: Two Decades of 360° Foreign Policies

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 11:58:00 GMT

Analyzing modern Türkiye’s foreign policy is the perfect case study of how, over time, a nation-state can completely restructure its approach to engaging with the outside world. Yet this analysis does not aim to propose an extended or complete listing of individual countries’ relations; on the contrary, it basically tries to suggest what was the catalyst when measurable change occurred for the first time. In brief, Türkiye progressed from promoting splendid isolation during the past millennium to becoming a fully integrated and often trend-setting international actor in just over two decades. Hence, determining the actual catalyst for change, which according to the author is not just an election victory but also a much more profound paradigm shift in elected officials’ attitudes towards the wider world, is this contribution’s major aim. After discussing the analytical differences between international relations on the one hand and foreign policies on the other and focusing on the electorate as a key contributor and beneficiary of and from proactive foreign policies, the piece proposes a number of key examples to come up with a tangible way to measure foreign policy success. At the same time, the question is put forward in which context there might be even more to expect from Ankara and its constant desire to further expand on an already impressively positive global image. Whether or not foreign policies are an integral part of Türkiye’s 100-year strategy and thus become a focus of Türkiye the Brand serves as the concluding reflection.

Post-Ottoman Legacy in the Middle East: A Compendium of 100 Years of Turkish Foreign Policy

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:07:00 GMT

The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire set the stage for Türkiye’s evolving foreign policy in the Middle East, a region deeply intertwined with its historical legacy. From the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 to the rise of the AK Party in the early 2000s, Türkiye’s approach has been marked by pragmatism, adaptability, and a keen understanding of regional dynamics. The nation's foreign policy has oscillated between neutrality, revisionism, proactivity, reactivity, assertiveness, autonomy, and diplomacy, reflecting both its historical ties and strategic imperatives. As Türkiye continues to navigate the complexities of the Middle East, its foreign policy remains a testament to its enduring resilience and strategic acumen. By tracing its roots and evolution, the article sheds light on the myriad factors that have shaped its course, offering insights into the evolving nature of Türkiye’s multifaceted and adaptive foreign policy and role in the Middle East over the last 100 years (1923-2023).

Türkiye-Africa Relations: A Case Study of Somalia, Nigeria and Libya from Humanitarian and Security Perspectives

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:26:00 GMT

This paper explores Türkiye’s relations with Africa, focusing on Somalia, Nigeria and Libya from both humanitarian and security perspectives. To do so, the study employs the concept of soft power in relation to the security and humanitarian policies that Türkiye has adopted on the African continent. Though Türkiye has no significant colonial history on the continent like other European countries, its relations with Africa in recent decades are no secret and continue to strengthen against all odds. From a relationship that stems from historical links with the Ottoman Empire to more promising and positive impacts on the continent in recent years, it is important to understand these ties amidst the increasing distaste expressed by some African nations towards the West. Using examples of Türkiye’s security and humanitarian deployment in Somalia, Nigeria and Libya, it is perhaps no surprise to perceive the relationship between Türkiye and African nations as a dichotomy between humanitarian and security.

Italian-Turkish Relations Before and After the War in Ukraine: From NATO Membership to Food Diplomacy

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:34:00 GMT

This paper explores Italy-Türkiye relations and food diplomacy’s role in shaping international relations, drawing parallels between Harry S. Truman’s 1951 decision to provide emergency grain aid to India and current global diplomacy, especially amid the Ukraine crisis. Truman’s choice, driven by humanitarian concerns and India’s significance during the early Cold War, is examined. The article also explores how Türkiye employs food diplomacy, exemplified by the Black Sea Grain Initiative, to bolster its regional and global influence. It delves into complex Italian-Turkish relations amid the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing NATO membership and food diplomacy’s role in shaping their future ties.

The Century of Türkiye: A New Foreign Policy Vision for Building the Türkiye Axis

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:42:00 GMT

On the centenary of the Turkish Republic, President Erdoğan, who has been ruling Türkiye for the last two decades, has announced a new perspective on foreign policy for Türkiye’s second century. He has named the long-term foreign policy vision as the ‘Century of Türkiye’ and declared his determination for building a ‘Türkiye Axis.’ After a fierce struggle against both domestic and international tutelage, President Erdoğan has succeeded to attain autonomy in Turkish foreign policy. Ankara has built a powerful economy and increased its military capacity at the national level. Also, it has improved its relations with both Turkic and Muslim countries and begun to take initiatives and to play a leadership role at the regional level. Furthermore, Türkiye has diversified its relations with other actor and elevated its status at the global level. Within this perspective, it has begun to contribute to resolving global challenges and to play an influential role in international organizations. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis of the evolving foreign policy of Türkiye in recent years. It will delve deep into the shifts and transformations that have taken place and explore the underlying principles and objectives that define Türkiye’s new foreign policy vision, the Century of Türkiye.

The Century of Türkiye as a Strategic Discourse

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:03:00 GMT

The ‘Century of Türkiye’ has been introduced as the new discourse of strategy in Turkish foreign policy with the centennial of the Republic of Türkiye. In this respect, this article explores which factors determined the emergence of the discourse, how the agency has perceived the shifts in structure, how Türkiye has positioned itself concerning shifts in the international political system, global economy, and geography, the perils and promises of determined strategy, and what the discourse entails. It is argued that the new strategy is articulated as a vision-oriented strategy and constitutes a continuity in the preceding century in the country’s quest for greater autonomy. The article points out factors that could cause incongruence between what is intended with the articulated strategy, what is spoken through discourse, and what is actualized at the end.

From Geopolitical Anxiety to Assertive Stance: The Historical Construction and Transformation of Turkish Naval Strategy

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:08:00 GMT

This article traces the evolution of Türkiye’s naval strategy from a defensive coastal-based concept to an assertive one within a broader geopolitical perspective. The shift began during the Cyprus crisis of the 1960s and was made possible by the Navy’s desire to return to the seas. The “Toward Open Seas” strategy of the 1990s and the development of the Turkish defense industry in the 2000s under the AK Party government further enabled this shift. By 2015, the Navy had become more active and was mobilized under a comprehensive strategic reorientation, reflecting its expanded role beyond coastal defense. It examines the various contextual factors that have influenced the transformation of Türkiye’s naval forces, including the intra-institutional context under the Turkish Armed Forces, the discursive context regarding dominant geopolitical narratives, and the geostrategic context concerning the operationalization of Turkish naval strategy. The article’s main aim is to contribute to the existing literature on Türkiye’s naval strategy by drawing on primary sources that have not yet been fully examined.

A Century of Türkiye-Europe Relations: Europe’s Diminishing Role

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:17:00 GMT

This article analyzes the major developments and general trends in Türkiye-Europe relations over the last century to make the main argument that Europe, which had been the main determinant of Turkish foreign policy in recent centuries, has gradually lost that position. Whereas European states, with which Türkiye had the closest economic and political relations at the time of the Republic’s foundation, remain significant in terms of foreign direct investments and external trade today, their share in those fields has notably decreased compared to a century (and even 30 years) ago. During the last two decades, when the global power struggle intensified, European governments opted to adopt an incomprehensible policy of pressure and sanctions against Türkiye’s democratically elected Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government instead of trying to keep the country, a long-time ally, in their corner. This article also discusses why the relevant countries behaved that way and how the Turkish government responded to such behavior.

Right-Wing Populist Discourse in the European Parliament on Turkish Foreign Policy

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:24:00 GMT

Right-wing populism is on the rise all over the world and has led to profound effects and changes in the international system. The European continent, which is identified with democracy and human rights, also sees its share of this trend. Today, right-wing populist parties and actors are gaining strength in many EU countries and come to the fore as a serious political focus. The European Parliament (EP), as an example of direct democracy, has become one of the most visible institutions facing this shift. In this article, the discourses of right-wing populist parliamentarians in the EP toward Türkiye are focused on through a social constructivist perspective. The 2009-2014 and 2014-2019 parliamentary periods are analyzed comparatively to present which discursive strategies MEPs used in their statements about Türkiye and what kind of Türkiye representation they constructed in the EP. The article benefits from critical discourse analysis studies and aims to contribute to the literature on the attitudes of right-wing populist groups on Türkiye.

Iran-Russia-Türkiye Triangle: A Challenge for the U.S. Position in the Middle East

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:41:00 GMT

The American-centric world order that was shaped after the end of the Cold War is being questioned by dynamically growing “old” and “new” centers of power, namely Russia and China. Entities united in opposition to American hegemony pursue policies that challenge not only the U.S. position but more importantly American interests. This process has been especially visible in the wake of the civil war in Syria. This article aims to analyze the U.S. Middle East strategy in the context of ongoing redistribution of power in the region, influenced by the Iran-Russia-Türkiye triangle. It claims that Syria’s civil war stimulated the formation of this triangle and significantly influenced the further evolution of the balance of power in the region, posing both a direct challenge and an indirect threat to the American position and its interests in the Middle East. The article argues for the necessity of correcting the American Middle East strategy, as the one implemented so far opened the door to other powers to compete for influence in the Middle East.

A Founding Role in Türkiye’s Africa Policy: The Action Plan for Opening to Africa

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In direct proportion to the development of Türkiye’s relations with Africa, the number of studies on bilateral relations is also increasing. However, the Action Plan for Opening to Africa, which was prepared in 1998, is a milestone in Türkiye’s relations with Africa and has not been examined specifically and in-depth. This study aims to examine all aspects of the Action Plan for Opening to Africa, which plays a founding role in Türkiye’s Africa policy. In this context, the focus is on the content of the plan, the internal and external developments that brought it about, and the role of foreign policymakers who put these developments through the filter of their perception. To guide the analysis of these issues focused on in the study, role theory and documentary source screening based on Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources were used to examine the Action Plan. As a result of the study, it has been observed that the systemic conditions affecting Turkish foreign policy after the Cold War and the Action Plan put forward as a visionary foreign policy step by İsmail Cem, who served as the foreign minister, especially under the conditions of coalition governments, played a founding role in Türkiye’s relations with the continent.

The Cyprus Conflict: A Case for ‘Joint Decision Trap’

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 14:06:00 GMT

This paper is about the current stage of the Cyprus conflict in the context of the recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. The energy discoveries could have been a catalyst for a solution, but the opposite occurred. The Greek Cypriot administration aimed to expand its regional ‘allies’ through maritime delimitation agreements. Meanwhile, Türkiye has continued its exploratory drilling. The trajectory that the Cyprus conflict followed after the Greek Cypriot administration’s EU membership in 2004 is a case of a ‘joint decision trap.’ The EU’s paralysis towards the conflict has pushed Türkiye, once proactive to resolve it with the expectation of becoming an EU member, to slide back to its traditional hard power strategy.

Turkish Foreign Policy in the Centennial Republican Anniversary: Quo Vadis?

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 14:22:00 GMT

This review article is based on three books: Starting with Alaranta, a senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in Helsinki, Finland, who has already published extensively on Türkiye, Kemalism, Turkish transformation, Türkiye-West relations, and the TFP. Thus, Alaranta’s Turkey’s Foreign Policy Narratives could be depicted as the summary of his typical research interests. Alaranta indicates this book is –to some extent– a continuation of his earlier book titled as National and State Identity in Turkey: The Transformation of the Republic’s Status in the International System (2015).” However, this book could be depicted as analyzing the TFP narratives in an era of global power shifts, reference to Kuhnian paradigm shift makes sense in this context, as well as international and national historical processes of the ever-changing international system. Alaranta’s book encompasses two main parts: the first composed of the second and third chapters, goes through narratives shaping and being shaped by some major events in Turkish history and the concomitant international system of the corresponding era. The second part, composed of chapters four to seven, scrutinizes the preceding ten years covering the relationship between the current global power shift and Türkiye’s role in global politics with reference to the context of the new presidential regime and TFP’s rising activism.

Turkey in the Global Economy: Neoliberalism, Global Shift, and the Making of a Rising Power

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:23:00 GMT

The establishment of the Turkic Council and ambitious calls for closer economic and cultural cooperation with Azerbaijan and Turkic states of Central Asia are priorities in Türkiye’s foreign economic policies and require a comprehensive study. Turkic countries of Central Asia are a potential export market for Turkish goods. In addition, the case of Azerbaijan demonstrates that they could also be the source of much need investment to achieve economic objectives in the country.

Turkey’s Foreign Policy Narratives: Implications of Global Power Shifts

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:52:00 GMT

The book is addressed to anyone interested and working in International Relations, Middle East politics, Turkish history, and politics. It deserves positive comments in many ways. First of all, it should be noted that the content is very well constructed. The theoretical background, the historical process analysis, and discussions on the subject are well distributed in the sections. The author supports his main argument well with the right questions and observations. It is a sincere determination by the author that the texts that need to be analyzed on the subject are constantly being produced (p. 5) and it is important in terms of accepting the limitations of his own work. In addition to these positive aspects, the analysis of TFP narratives through two dominant ideological camps may be functional for the author, but it has drawbacks for a full understanding of reality.

Turkey-Russia Relations in the Twenty-First Century: Cooperation and Competition amid Systemic Turbulence

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:16:00 GMT

The book is an important reference for any researcher looking into the relations between Türkiye and Russia, and also to understand both countries’ foreign policy towards each other over the last twenty years. This study will help the reader to assess Turkish-Russian relations and to predict how they could develop in the future.

Re-Globalization New Frontiers of Political, Economic, and Social Globalization

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:54:00 GMT

This timely book informs us that the world has entered the re-globalization process. This process, which is known as the ‘new normal’ among the people, especially with what COVID-19 has brought, indicates a paradigm shift. Therefore, this book is an important attempt to discuss what humanity may face economically, socially, and politically in the future. The authors of the book both make due diligence and make inferences about the future of globalization. The authors of this book have pointed out three common themes of reglobalization. The first of these is the COVID-19 process, and what it has introduced. The second is the rising nationalist rhetoric, which means that, as the authors point out, the world oscillates between globalist expansion on the one hand and nationalist retrenchment, on the other. Finally, the book highlights China’s distinctive role in re-globalization.

First Nationalism then Identity: On Bosnian Muslims and Their Bosniak Identity

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:31:00 GMT

First Nationalism then Identity is an important work providing a refreshing view of the interaction between nationalism and identity by focusing on an academically fascinating case study. It will be of interest primarily to comparativists of ethnicity and nationalism and historians and it is indispensable for understanding the current ethnic trajectories in Bosnia and in the broader post-Yugoslav space.

Social Media and International Relations

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:03:00 GMT

In today’s world where the world axis has shifted almost entirely to technology, social media can be used as a great marketing tool for the smallest organizations to the largest ones; access to information provides people, groups, and organizations with great competitive advantages, and the fact that the research is one of the rare studies that develops a theoretical framework for the impact of social media on international relations makes this study both up-to-date and qualified.

The European Union as a Global Counter-Terrorism Actor

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:05:00 GMT

The book meets most of the arguments mentioned in the title, except the EU actorness. Lack of military power in action, unwillingness of some member states, loss of the most powerful member in counter-terrorism (UK) and close engagement with the U.S. make the EU a co-actor more than an actor in counter-terrorism. It should be admitted that the arguments in the book are put forward in a cascade of logic, the chapters are well connected to each other and the theoretical plane is well analyzed. An important plus for the non-field reader is that descriptive summary information is provided where the concepts are complicated. The book is a useful source for scholars, students, and especially field researchers.

Myanmar’s Rohingya Genocide: Identity, History and Hate Speech

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:31:00 GMT

The book covers human rights violations, which the author describes as genocide, experienced by the Rohingya people; the Myanmar ruler’s view of the Rohingya people; and how these people were made stateless in its historical and current dimensions. The author’s field research, not only through documents, increases the analytical power of the study. This book is a comprehensive study for researchers and scientists interested in this subject.

Humanitarian and Military Intervention in Libya and Syria: Parliamentary Debate and Policy Failure

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:47:00 GMT

The book sheds light on the political, strategic, and historical factors shaping the international response to interventions. Thus, it clearly responds to the discourses in the field of international politics that polemicize Western interventions in the respective countries by using thematic analysis. It is considered to be an important work for students and researchers interested in the field in terms of presenting the Western-led interventions in Libya and Syria, their results, and contradictions in an unbiased and clear manner. On the other hand, it stands out as an important contribution to the literature on international relations and conflict resolution, as well as a courageous publication in terms of processing the negativities. In this context, the book titled Humanitarian and Military Intervention in Libya and Syria: Parliamentary Debate and Policy Failure written by Aran M. Lewis is recommended by me as a book that should be read by those working in this field.

Russia after 2020: Looking ahead after Two Decades of Putin

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:02:00 GMT

As an editorial work, which makes it difficult for the book to be discussed as a whole, it can be emphasized, in some parts of the book, that the frequent handling of geopolitical reasons in understanding Putin and Russian foreign policy causes the study to fall into repetition in some aspects. The non-laborious language of the book allowed the subjects to be dealt with in depth. In addition, transliteration, spelling, punctuation, and references are shared with the readers at the beginning of the book. An extensive information note is given on the use of English, Russian, and Arabic concepts. This is a non-negligible point showing that the author has worked meticulously to reach the readers of the book. In this respect, the book can be considered useful and important work for students, analysts, and policymakers who are interested in Putin’s Russia.

Web Panel I | On the Eve of a New Century: Türkiye's Foreign Policy

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 12:21:00 GMT

After the Summer 2023 Issue on the Century of Türkiye was released, Insight Turkey organized an online where experts discussed Turkish foreign policy and bilateral relations. As the Insight Turkey team, we hope that the panel's comments are informative and provide a better knowledge of the issues at hand. A video of the entire panel session is available on our YouTube channel

Web Panel II | On the Eve of a New Century: Türkiye's Foreign Policy

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 15:22:00 GMT

As a continuation of the 1st Panel held on November 10th, Insight Turkey held a second panel entitled "On the Eve of a New Century Türkiye's Foreign Policy," where experts discussed Turkish foreign policy and bilateral relations. As the Insight Turkey team, we are pleased to offer the panel's informative and enlightening commentary on the matter at hand. We invite you to view the complete panel discussion on our YouTube channel.