Turkey and the New Middle East: Between Liberalism and Realism

Year 2011, Volume: 16 Issue: 3, 93 - 114, 01.10.2011

Hasan Kösebalaban

Abstract

It is sometimes argued that Turkish foreign policy under the AK Party government reflects its ideology, and Turkish foreign policy towards the Middle East is often used as an illustration of this influence. When it is closely examined, however, one can easily see that the government has often followed a mainly realist foreign policy approach in the Middle East and used the idealism for the maximization of Turkish national interests. In contrast to the power resources at the disposal of other regional powers, including the support of external powers, sectarian identities, or ethnic-linguistic ties, the key asset of Turkish foreign policy is its successful combination of democracy and Islam. Utilizing this image, Turkey has emerged as the most outspoken supporter of democratic transformations, aiming to create a liberaldemocratic regional order. This, however, brings Turkey ultimately into conflict with other aspiring hegemonic powers, including both Israel and Iran

Keywords

Turkey, Middle East, Liberalism, Realism, Arab Spring.

References

• Graham E. Fuller, New Turkish Republic: Turkey As a Pivotal State in the Muslim World, Washington, DC, United States Institute of Peace Press, 2008, p.72.
• Osmanisches Comeback”, Der Spiegel, 30 May 2009. Also see Der Spiegel interview with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, “Wir Wollen Ordnung”, Der Spiegel, 22 June 2009.
• “Turkish Leader Stresses Strong Ties with Israel in Meeting with U.S. Jews”, at http://www. theturkishtimes.com/archive/03/0103/f_ties.html [Last visited 12 February 2006]. 4 DEIK
• “Bush: Sharon A ‘Man Of Peace’”, Washington Post, 19 April 2002.
• Şahin Alpay, “The Complexities of Turkey’s Relationship with Israel”, Today’s Zaman, 5 January 2009.
• “Rice Praises Turkey’s ‘Very Helpful’ Efforts to End Gaza Crisis”, Haaretz, 6 July 2006.
• Ambassador Ross Wilson Interview with Kanal 7, at http://turkey.usembassy.gov/amb_022806.html [Last visited 29 July 2009].
• David Bedein, “Hamas Looks to Offset Dependency on Iran”, The Philadelphia Bulletin, 7 May 2009.
• “Altından O Çıktı”, Hürriyet, 18 February 2006.
• “Rain of Fire, Israel’s Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza”, at http://www.hrw.org/sites/ default/files/reports/iopt0309webwcover.pdf, [Last visited 29 July 2009].
• “Turkey Confirms It Barred Israel from Military Exercise Because of Gaza War”, Guardian, 12 October 2009. Also see Şaban Kardaş, “Postponed Military Exercise Tests Turkish-Israeli Cooperation”, Eurasia Daily Monitor (The Jamestown Foundation), Vol. 6, 15 November 2009.
• “Turkish Military Launches Joint Exercise with Syria on Shared Border”, Associated Press, 27 April 2009. 14 6 April 2009.
• “No One Should Test Turkey’s Patience, PM Erdoğan Warns”, Today’s Zaman, 2 June 2010.
• “Elbit, IAI awarded $141m Deal with Turkey”, Ynet, 26 December 2008.
• For instance, see F. Stephen Larrabee, “Turkey Rediscovers the Middle East”, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 86, No.4 (July/August 2007), p. 4.
• “Report Finds Naval Blockade by Israel Legal but Faults Raid”, New York Times, 1 September 2011.
• Ozdem Sanberk, “Behind the Palmer Report—Analysis”, EurasiaReview, 24 October 2011.
• Richard Falk, “Disappointment at the United Nations: The Failure of the Palmer Report”, Insight Turkey, Vol. 13, No. 4 (2011).
• “Cyprus: Israeli Planes Patrol Mediterranean”, Stratfor, 17 October 2011.
• “Turkey Natural Gas Search Stokes Tensions with Cyprus”, Guardian, 2 October 2011.
• Oded Eran, “Israel: Quo Vadis, Turkey?” Insight Turkey, Vol. 13, No. 4 (2011), p. 37.
• “After Turkey, PKK now also Demanding Apology from Israel”, Haaretz, 13 September 2011.
• Bülent Aras and Rabia K. Polat, “From Conflict to Cooperation: De-Securitization of Turkey’s Relations with Syria and Iran”, Security Dialogue, Vol. 39, No.5 (2008), pp.495-515.
• “Turkish President Calls for Stronger Ties with Iran”, The Daily Star, 19 June 2002.
• Ian Black, “Fear of a Shia Full Moon”, Guardian, 26 January 2011.
• “World Leaders React Cautiously to Iranian Elections”, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 5 June 2009.
• “Iran Threatens to Hit Turkey if US, Israel Attack”, Sunday’s Zaman, 27 November 2011.
• “US to Sell Turkey Patriot Missiles in $7.8 Billion Deal”, Sunday’s Zaman, 14 September 2009.
• “Ankara Rıfat’ı Dinledi ama Beşar’a Destek Verdi”, Hürriyet, 18 June 2000.
• Fadi Hakura, Interviewed by Kari Lipschutz, “Turkey’s Trade with Arab Neighbours”, World Politics Review, 28 June 2010. 33 Ibid.
• “U.N. Report Documents Syria’s Crimes against Protesters”, Washington Post, 28 November 2011.
• Itamar Rabinovich, “Israel’s Dilemma in Damascus: Jerusalem’s View on the Syrian Uprising”, Foreign Affairs, 10 April 2011, at http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67721/itamar-rabinovich/israels- dilemma-in-damascus?page=show. [Last visited 10 December 2011].
• “Iraqi Leader Backs Syria, With a Nudge From Iran”, New York Times, 12 August 2011.
• Anthony Shadid, “Lebanon Shows Shift of Influence in Mideast,” New York Times, 18 January 2011.
• “Syrian Uprising Spills Over Into Lebanon’s Raucous Political Scene,” New York Times, 30 November 2011.
• “In Shift, Egypt Warms to Iran and Hamas, Israel’s Foes”, New York Times, 28 April 2011.
• “Syria and the Unfolding Hegemonic Game”, Al Jazeera, 25 November 2011.
• “’Cool it,’ Turkey Tells Iran and Saudi Arabia”, Hürriyet Daily News, 16 March 2011.
• “Turkey Steps up Diplomacy to Contain Bahrain Crisis”, Today’s Zaman, 18 March 2011.
• “Diktatörlerle Barış Gelmez”, Yeni Şafak, 12 December 2011.
• “Saudi Arabia Gives Israel Clear Skies to Attack Iranian Nuclear Sites”, The Times, 12 June 2010.
• Chemi Shalev, “Could This War Produce a Sunni-Israeli Alliance?” Haaretz, 28 August 2006.
• “Regional Turmoil Costs Turkey $384 Million in Trade Losses”, Hürriyet Daily News, 10 April 2011.
• İbrahim Kalın, “Turkey and the Arab Spring”, Project Syndicate, at http://www.project-syndicate.org/ commentary/kalin2/English [Last visited 23 May 2011].