The new
state which was founded within the borders of Natinal Pact after Ottoman Empire
collapsed inherited the Ottoman Empire’s foreign policy experiences .
However political elites had to deviate
from empire’s foreign policy traditions almost completely. Because
international conjuncture required some obligations. In these years Islam world
was experiencing the hardest times of
its history. Also, Turkish World felt under domination of Bolshevik after
Bolshevik Revolution. So , Pan-İslamism and Turkism, two bases of Ottoman
Foreign Policy tradition, lost their significance in real terms. It was
necessary to determine new foreign policy principles and to change old practices
for being integrated to new
international system.
With new
foreign policy understanding , new state gave up all international
responsibilities and claims which inherited from Ottoman Empire. According to
new principles of new state’s foreign policy ,defending the
nation-state and protecting the
National Pact borders were prefered by new administration instead of being assertive in international
system. Also , instead of being alternative or opponent to rising West , Turkey
prefered to be part of western block.This new foreign policy approach can be
seen both as pacifist -idealist international relations style and a realist
foreign policy attitude which avoid coinciding with colonial powers. Between
1923-1939, although political elites prefered taking sides with western powers,
they did not finished all relations with eastern countries and Soviet Union. So
we can describe Turkey’s inter-war foreign policy as relative autonomy.
Throughout World War two, Turkey followed again a relative autonomy
policy.Between 1939-1941 warring factions compete against each other to
integrate Turkey into their blocks.Turkey was not neutral along World War
2.Turkey took its sides with allied powers.However, Turkey did not get
involved in war and although intensive
pressure from entente states it did not declare a war against Germany and other
central powers.Between 1941-1943, Germany force Turkey intensively.The last two
years of war the pressure on Turkey to incorporate it into war increasingly
continued. At the end of Worl War 2, Turkey began to fight against Germant to
be one of the founder states of United
Nations.
Between
1945-1960, in the bipolar system, Turkey chose side of Western block. Because
it was perceiving a big and apparent threat from Soviet Union as so in the
history. In such a strained international
system,Turkey did not want to stand alone. In addition, Soviet Union was
a common enemy for West and Turkey.Also for centuries, Turkey was heading for
West.Lastly,USA was not known as an imperialist state. Beause of these reasons
it is not so hard to understand this foreign policy decision. To prove Turkey’s
West partisanship and to guarantee its security against Soviet threat, Turkey
try to be an member state to NATO. Sending Turkish soldiers to Korean War
between 1950-1953 was an effective factor to gain NATO membership. In the term
of 1945-1960, Turkey was dependent to West, especially USA,
economically,politically,militarily etc. Because of this situation this term is
tought as the antithesis of the terms
of 1923-1939 and 1939-1945. Menderes
term foreign policy sustained traditional westernism approach, but deviated from status quoist
line. In this term there is also problem of legitimacy of foreign policy
decisions.
The term
of 1960-1980 is defined again as relative autonomy. In this term politicians try to diversify their diplomatic
relations to reduce USA dependency. Because Turkey understood that USA can
ignore their partner’s profits for its own profits. Johnson Letter is an
striking example for this comment and we can say that after this letter Turkey
realised the threat and tried to change their foreign policy understanding and
practices.Also , in paralel with international devolopments, the USA opposition
has risen up in the Turkey among politicians, media, NGOs, ordinary citizens
etc.
Between
1980-1990,Turkish Foreign Policy was influenced a lot from globalisation.Turgut
Özal followed a functionalist foreign policy. Özal opened Turkish economy to
foreign countries too much, so Turkey’s external dependence has increased.
Because of increasing economic dependence, taking foreign policy decisions
freely got difficult for policy makers. In this term, the importance of
diplomats and foreign affairs ministry for foreign policy has decreased, while
the effects of businesspersons on foreign policy has extremely increased.In
this term Turkey restored its relations with USA and USA was the closest ally
of Turkey. The most important factor which prometed recovering relations
between USA and Turkey was Turkey’s being entegrated to international
capitalist system.24 April 1980 decisions was an indicator for changing
international economy policy.1979 İran İslam Revolution and Afghanistan
occupation of Soviet Union increased Turkey’s strategic significance.
In the
term of 1990-2002, Turkey has lost its jeostrategic importance in international
system. Also with ending internatioanl balance it could not followed an
relatively autonomous foreign policy. Although, Turkey did not make big foreign
policy mistakes in this term. The most important reason for this success is
that Turkey paralleled its foreign policy to hegemonic power. Since 1980 coup
d’etat, Europe criticized Turkey for its undemocratic implementations.
In the
Justice and devolopment party era, Ahmet Davutoğlu is the intellectual
architect of Turkey’s new foreign policy. He changed the rhetoric and practice
of Turkish foreign policy.One of the most prominent concepts which indicate the
transformation of Turkish foreign policy in the AKP era is ‘strategic depth’.According
to this hypothesis, Turkey’s role is very important for World politics and for
transformation of international system. Because Turkey is a very important
state geopolitically, geoculturally, and
geoeconomically. In the Davutoğlu era İn Turkish foreign policy we can see a
deepening involvement of Turkey in regional politics,international
organizations,and world politics. According to Davutoğlu, there was a certain
hierarchy during the cold war era. However , in Davutoğlu’s view,this hierarchy
is no longer valid in the current era.So Turkey’s international
position should be interpreted again.According to him, until AKP era this
chance and Turkey’s privileges could not be evaluated so much. According to
changing foreign policy understanding, Turkey should devolope an integrated
foreign policy.Turkey has multiple regional identities.Thus, it has the
capability to follow an integrated foreign policy.Turkey should give priority
to immediate issues, but it should not
ignore other foreign policy concerns. As a result of this understanding,one of
the most important components of Davutoğlu’s vision is putting an end to what
he calls the ‘alienation’of Turkey’s neighboring countries. Another prominent
new foreign policy instrument is pro-active foreign policy.This line is
strengthened by rhythmic diplomacy. Also, especially during times of crises,
having presence on the ground is a mechanism of Turkey’s new forign policy. In
short, Davutoğlu’s vision promises a central role for Turkey in a wide range of
geography from Africa to Asia.
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