TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY: FOUR PILLARS OF TRADITION

Abstract

As Oral Sander writes, "its Western orientation is one fundamental aspect of Turkish foreign policy which has remained unchanged through the history of the Republic."1 The making of Turkish foreign policy has, thus, been a remarkable choice of policy. Sander to all intents and purposes should have stated that its Western orientation is the fundamental platform. Yet, this sweeping statement, while correct in its essence, fails to take note of the first two decades of the Republic, when Turkey cautiously maintained a neutral policy with regard to the Great Powers. However, we also need to take account of a major point. That a policy of neutrality is first and foremost a distinguishing characteristic of newly formed states. However, even during this period, Turkey's membership of the European community of nations, both politically and economically, gathered momentum. Of course, the Ottoman predecessor to the Republic had in any case almost always been at the heart of European affairs. Notwithstanding, this Western orientation was continued and reinforced after the Second World War, whereby Turkey began to fulfil the role of a staunch ally of the West. A role which in great measure exists today, particularly through NATO. A role that was cemented further when President Turgut Özal lent his support to the West during the second Gulf War.

References

1. 1 Oral Sander, 'Turkish Foreign Policy: Forces of Continuity and Change', Turkish Review, Winter 1993, p. 31.
2. 2 Ibid., p.32.
3. 3 See Paul B. Henze, 'Turkey: Toward the Twenty-first Century' in G.E. Fuller and I.O. Lesser (eds.), Turkey's New Geopolitics, Boulder, Colorado, Westview Press, 1993, pp. 1-35.
4. 5 Mehmet Gönlübol and Ömer Kürkçüoğlu, 'A General Look at Turkish Foreign Policy During the Period of Atatürk', Turkish Review, November 1985, p. 35.
5. 6 Ibid, p. 35.
6. 7 'Atatürk'ün Söylev ve Demeçleri, III', Türk İnkılap Tarihi Enstitüsü, Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, Ankara, 1952, p. 67.
7. 8 Andrew Mango, 'Kemal Atatürk - Father of the Turks', Turkish Review, Autumn 1990, p. 8.
8. 9 Shireen T. Hunter, The Transcaucasus in Transition: Nation-Building and Conflict, Washington DC, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1994, p. 162.

9. 10 Gareth M. Winrow, 'Turkey's Role in Asian Pipeline Politics', Jane's Intelligence Review, 9, No. 2, February 1997.
10. 11 Oral Sander, 1993, p. 42.
11. 12 Ibid., p. 42