For my academic writings, please consult:
http://works.bepress.com/mehmetozkan/

September 18, 2008

TURKEY IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD: AN INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Mehmet OZKAN
Published in Turkish Review of Middle East Studies 18, 2007, pp.159-193.


INTRODUCTION

During the Cold War, Turkish foreign policy toward the Islamic world was affected by the Cold War environment and mainly security concerns. From World War II to the beginning of the 1960s, Turkey pursued a policy that was mostly defined within its western relations. During this period, for example, Turkey briefly followed an active foreign policy in the Middle East and tried to play leadership role in any organization that would help to create a link with the Western alliance. In this period, Turkish foreign policy was mostly western-oriented and based on securing itself from the Soviet threat. In 1960s and 1970s, however, the circumstances that had led Turkey to link its security interest completely with those of the United States underwent significant changes. The Cyprus crisis, the letter from President Johnson and the US arms embargo led Turkey to take new directions and investigate other options.

In this environment, Turkey developed its relations with the Third World countries and Islamic world in general, and with the Middle East in particular. Turkey showed more interest in Arab-Israeli issue and Middle East problems, but strictly followed its policy of non-interference in regional affairs. By the 1980s, Turkey’s Middle East policy had undergone significant changes. Thanks to the economic crisis of the late 1970s, Turkey modified its policy toward the region. This changing and developing of the economic relations had repercussions and, consequently, paved the way for new directions in political and social areas. The Gulf Crisis in 1990 indicated a turning point in its relations with the Middle East and Turkey has started to play an active
role in the region.

Full-text available:
http://obiv.org.tr/2008/TurkishReviewofMiddleEastStudies/PDF/MehmetOZKAN.pdf