The Impact of Self-Orientalism on Türkiye’s Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East

Abstract

This study aims to reveal how self-Orientalism affects relations between states in the Middle East by analyzing Türkiye-Middle East relations. It argues that Türkiye’s foreign policy towards the Middle East has mainly been based on self-Orientalist views of the founding elites of the country, the impact of which will likely continue into the future. There has been hostility between those who preferred a holistic self-Orientalism and those that supported a technological-only version. While the latter is not Occidentalist, it argues that relations with the Arab-Muslim world can be improved without being anti-West. The other side, complete self-Orientalists, see Middle Eastern culture as backward, thereby alienating themselves from the region. Moreover, efforts to be an EU member have complicated debates about self-Orientalism as Türkiye could be considered to be part of the Occident. Available literature is systematically reviewed.

Keywords

• Middle East
• Turkish Foreign Policy
• Orientalism
• Self-Orientalism
• Arab World
• Occidentalism

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