Turkey, the West and the Endless Search for Power

Abstract

This chapter argues that there have been two fundamental trends in Turkish foreign policy that have persisted for a century despite many fluctuations, and turmoil inside the country and in the international system. Firstly, Turkey’s Western orientation dates back to the late Ottoman times. Since the founding of the Republic in 1923, Turkey has aimed at becoming part of the Western world, and this was institutionalized after World War II. Although there have been many attempts to multiply its foreign ties, searching for alternatives and forming regional blocs, Turkey’s Western orientation has not been severed. This has strategic, economic, military, institutional, societal and cultural elements to it. Secondly, a deep-rooted perception of threat has defined Turkey’s security and foreign policy over a long period of time and this affected its relations not only with its neighbors but also with its allies. This never-ending threat perception has appeared in different forms in different times and has led the country to pursue a more militarized policy, especially since the end of the Cold War.