WESTERN BALKANS, TÜRKİYE AND THE CONCEPT OF NATURAL POSITION

Öz

There is no doubt that Turkiye is a very influential state in the Western Balkans region and has developed into an undoubtable regional actor within recent years. In this paper, our aim is to analyze the position of Turkiye as a regional actor in the Western Balkans, to rethink the approach of Turkiye towards the Western Balkans and to introduce Natural Position as a new concept related to regional policies and foreign relations. This paper will provide an analysis of the history and development of relations between Turkiye and the Western Balkans, the significance and role of Turkiye in the region and the justification of Turkish involvement within the framework of the concept of Natural Position. As well as rethinking the role and approach of Turkiye in the Western Balkans and providing analytical reasoning for a more assertive Turkish role in the Balkans.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Policy
• Doctrine
• Investment
• Regional Power
• Integration
• Heritage

Batı Balkanlar, Türkiye ve Doğal Konum kavramı

Öz

Batı Balkanlarda Türkiyenin çok etkili bir devlet olduğu ve özellikle son dönemlerde bir bölgesel aktör haline geldiği şüphesiz görülmektedir. Bu makalenin amacı, Türkiyenin bölgesel güç olarak Batı Balkanlardaki rolünü incelemek, Türkiyenin yaklaşımını yeniden analiz etmek ve Doğal Konum kavramını bölgesel politika ve uluslararası ilişkiler alanına tanıtmak olacaktır. Bu makale ile Turkiye ve Batı balkanlar arasındaki tarihi ve sürekli gelişmekte olan ilişkileri incelemek suretiyle, Türkiyenin bölgedeki önemini, etkisini ve rolünün meşruluğunu, Doğal Konum çerçevesi üzerinden yorumlayacağız. Aynı zamanda, Türkiyenin bölgeye olan yaklaşımını yeniden düşünüp, daha etkin bir rol sahibi olması hakkındaki analitik sebepleri öne alacağız.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Politika
• Doktrin
• Yatırım
• Bölgesel Güç
• Entegrasyon
• Miras

Kaynakça

1. Ali, M. (2022). Turkey’s soft power policy towards the Balkans: Challenges and perspectives. Journal of Liberty and International Affairs, 255-265.
2. Atalay, O. (2021, October 25). Balkanlarda AB, Soros, Türkiye. Retrieved from Stratejik Düşünce Enstitüsü: https://www.sde.org.tr/analiz/balkanlarda-ab-soros-turkiye-analizi-24362
3. Aydıntaşbaş, A. (2019, March 13). From myth to reality: How to understand Turkey’s role in the Western Balkans. Retrieved from European Council on Foreign Relations: https://ecfr.eu/publication/from_myth_to_reality_how_to_understand_turkeys_role_in_the_wester n_balkans/
4. Bechev, D. (2012). Turkey in the Balkans: Taking a Broader View. Insight Turkey, 131-146.
5. Bloor, K. (2022). Regionalism and the European Union. In K. Bloor, Understanding Global Politics. E- International Relations.
6. Boyar, E. (2007). Ottomans, Turks and the Balkans: Empire Lost, Relations Altered. Bloomsbury Academic.
7. Bulut, E. (2006). `Friends, Balkans, Statesmen Lend Us Your Ears`: The Trans-State and State links between Turkey and the Balkans. London: Ethnopolitics: Formerly Global Review of Ethnopolitics.
8. Buyuk, H. F. (2021). Feuding Bosnians Look to Turkey’s Erdogan to Mediate Crisis. Retrieved from Balkan Insight Website: https://balkaninsight.com/2021/11/10/feuding-bosnians-look-to-turkeys- erdogan-to-mediate-crisis/

9. Comyn-Platt, T. (1904). The Turk in the Balkans. Forgotten Books.
10. Davutoğlu, A. (2008). Turkey’s foreign policy vision: An assessment of 2007. Insight Turkey, 77-96. Daily Sabah &
11. Reuters. (2021). Turkey ready for mediator role in Bosnia crisis: Defense Min. Akar. Retrieved from Daily Sabah Website: https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/turkey- ready-for-mediator-role-in-bosnia-crisis-defense-min-akar
12. European Parliament. (2023, April). The Western Balkans: Fact sheets on the European Union: European Parliament. Retrieved from European Parliament website: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/168/the-western-balkans
13. Eyicil, A. (2004). The Balkan policy of Turkey during Atatürk period. The Journal of Atatürk Research Center, 335-367.
14. Fırat Büyük, H. (2018, June 21). Turkish Exports to Balkan Countries Rise Rapidly. Retrieved from BalkanInsight: https://balkaninsight.com/2018/06/21/turkey-s-export-to-balkan-countries- increases-22-per-cent-06-21-2018/
15. Hayden, A. J., & Matar, N. (2012). Through the eyes of the beholder: The Holy Land, 1517-1713. BRILL. Ibish, M. (2016). Western Balkans and Turkey after the coup d’état attempt (15th of July 2016). Adam Academy Journal of Social Sciences, 75-94.
16. International Republican Institute. (2022, December 19). IRI North Macedonia poll finds dissatisfaction with country’s direction, support for EU membership, increase in positive perceptions of Turkey and China. Retrieved from International Republican Institute: https://www.iri.org/news/iri-north- macedonia-poll-finds-dissatisfaction-with-countrys-direction-support-for-eu-membership- increase-in-positive-perceptions-of-turkey-and-china/
17. Jano, D. (2008). From ‘Balkanization' to ‘Europeanization': The stages of Western Balkans complex transformations. Europe in Formation - Journal of studies on European construction and federalism, 55-69.
18. Jusufi, G., & Ukaj, F. (2021). Turkey's trade with Western Balkans: Looking beyond the Turkish foreign policy. Journal for International and European Law, Economics and Market Integrations.
19. Krauthammer, C. (2011, April 28). The Obama doctrine: Leading from behind. Retrieved from Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-obama-doctrine-leading-from- behind/2011/04/28/AFBCy18E_story.html
20. Kütük, D. (2022). Analysis - Erdogan’s Balkan tour: How economic relations stabilize the politics in the Balkans? Retrieved from Anadolu Agency Website: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis- erdogan-s-balkan-tour-how-economic-relations-stabilize-the-politics-in-the-balkans/2680940
21. Maziad, M., & Sotiriadis, J. (2020). Turkey’s Dangerous New Exports: Pan-Islamist, Neo-Ottoman Visions and Regional Instability. Retrieved from Middle East Institute website: https://www.mei.edu/publications/turkeys-dangerous-new-exports-pan-islamist-neo-ottoman- visions-and-regional
22. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. (2023). Relations between Türkiye and Serbia. Retrieved from Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/relations-between-turkiye-and-serbia%20.en.mfa
23. Nkrumah, K. (1965). Neo-Colonialism, the last stage of imperialism. Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd.
24. Ortaylı, I., & Küçükkaya, I. (2017). Cumhuriyetin ilk yüzyılı (1923-2023). Timaş Yayınları.
25. Ortaylı, I. (2016). İmparatorluğun son nefesi. Timaş Yayınları.
26. Reuters. (2022). Turkey's military operations in Iraq and Syria. Retrieved from Reuters Website: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkeys-military-operations-iraq-syria-2022-11-21/
27. Szpala, M. (2022). Bromance. Turkey’s activity in the Western Balkans. Retrieved from Centre for Eastern Studies Website: https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2022-11- 22/bromance-turkeys-activity-western-balkans
28. Targański, T. (2017). Neo-Ottomanism. An empire being rebuilt? New Eastern Europe, 78-83.
29. TİKA. (2022, 10 17). TİKA works to preserve common cultural heritage in Balkans. Retrieved from TİKA website:https://www.tika.gov.tr/en/news/tika_works_to_preserve_common_cultural_heritage_in_balkans-73114
30. TRT Haber. (2022, September 14). Balkanlar'a 8 ayda yaklaşık 14 milyar dolar ihracat. Retrieved from TRT Haber: https://www.trthaber.com/haber/ekonomi/balkanlara-8-ayda-yaklasik-14-milyar- dolar-ihracat-708582.html
31. Vračić, A. (2016). Turkey’s role in the Western Balkans.
32. Vulović, M. (2023). Economic Relations between the Western Balkans and Non-EU Countries. Retrieved from Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik - Deutches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit: https://www.swp-berlin.org/10.18449/2023C36/.
33. Yavuz, M. H. (2020). Nostalgia for the Empire: The politics of Neo-Ottomanism. Oxford University Press.
34. Yılmaz, E. A. (2021). Turkish foreign policy in a neorealist framework: Bilateral relations since 2016. Middle East Policy, 144-158.