Turkish Policy Quarterly Vol 7, No. 2 (Summer 2008)
"Dilemmas ahead for Turkey's regional policies"
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Nigar Göksel From the desk of the editor |
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Olli Rehn The Georgia crisis this summer highlighted the strategic importance of Turkish-EU cooperation to ensure stability and security in our common neighborhood. One of the most effective ways to stabilize the Caucasus region and spread European values there is to keep Turkey and the EU moving together. TPQ-article: "Turkey and the EU: A win-win game" |
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Faruk Loğoğlu Turkish foreign policy makers thread a thin, delicate line in a series of important regional and transnational issues – such as the Russia-Georgia dispute, the Middle East conflict, the Cyprus question, or Iran's nuclear program. Moreover, the world economic crisis is likely to compound the severity of political conflicts. So long as one follows a policy without having to make hard choices, one can play for time and avoid the necessity of taking sides. However, especially as issues are voted upon in the UNSC, Turkey will increasingly find itself in a position where it will have to make clear preferences in favor of one or the other party. TPQ-article: "Turkey with a seat on the UN Security Council: Tough decisions ahead" |
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Ian Lesser The circumstances of the last decade have encouraged a much more active and imaginative Turkish debate about international politics and strategy. Observers of the Turkish scene are right to identify the rise of a new look in Turkish foreign policy under AKP, with many positive and some negative results. Without question, Turkey's international policy is now more diverse, both functionally and geographically. The last decade has encouraged a policy in width; the next is likely to require a policy in depth, with more deliberate choices and more explicit priorities. TPQ-article: "Turkey's regional role: Harder choices ahead " |
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James Ker-Lindsay This article examines the case for the development of a post-Balkan strategy for European Union enlargement specifically focused on the Black Sea. It argues that in light of recent events in Georgia, and concerns over political stability in the Ukraine, such a move would represent a clear statement in support of their integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. However, such a move would also have an extremely beneficial effect on Turkey's accession process. TPQ-article: "Turkey and Black Sea strategy for EU enlargement" |
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Alexandros Petersen The enlargement of Western institutions and the incorporation of regions in between has been defined by the desire of those regions to shed their 'in between-ness'. Despite resistance from Russia and Western Europe, this momentum will likely continue. The West's premier institutions, the EU and NATO, with an open mind towards involving Russia, would do well to positively engage in the geopolitics of shifting frontiers. TPQ-article: "Regions in between: Europe, Nato and the geopolitics of shifting frontiers" |
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Chad Nagle The five-day war in August 2008 between Russia and Georgia has put the future of the Caucasus in doubt. Security structures such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have appeared either unwilling or unable to resolve the region's enduring conflict. To this situation, the Russian government's recognition of the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states represents a serious setback for the Georgian leadership's goal to integrate with the West. The "frozen conflict" between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the separatist republic of Nagorno-Karabakh continues to hinder the economic and political development of the states concerned. Under these circumstances, Turkey should take a more active role in determining the fate of the Caucasus, including bolder unilateralism. TPQ-article: "Whither Transcaucasia?" |
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Daphne McCurdy This article examines the ever-closer relationship between Turkey and Iran. In the case of Iran, despite stark ideological differences, the two countries have recently worked together on a variety of fronts. Today, cooperation comes mainly in the form of energy arrangements, where Turkey looks to Iran's abundant oil and gas resources to supply its growing energy needs. However, as Iran's relations with the West become increasingly hostile over its nuclear program and its support of terrorist groups in the region, Turkey finds itself in a difficult position. TPQ-article: "Turkish-Iranian relations: When opposites attract" |
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TPQ This is the second compilation of interviews on bilateral relations conducted in Turkey and Armenia with NGO and political party representatives. The project, supported by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and USAID was carried out by the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation Seven interviews were included in the Fall 2007 issue, and in this issue we include the full interviews with two representatives of Armenian NGOs and two Turkish experts. In addition we have included the sections relating to the role of international organizations of four leading Armenian NGOs. Clashing emotions and conflictory logical frameworks shine through in the comments, along with, in parts, a sense of humor… TPQ-article: "Voices from Armenia and Turkey on the future of relations" |
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Richard Giragosian Academia: regional developments, reports and events, June-September 2008 |
