The First Century of Turkish Foreign Policy

Mesut Şöhret

Article Details

The First Century of Turkish Foreign Policy

Authors:

Mesut Şöhret

Publisher:

Gaziantep University

Main Topics:

Türk Dış Politikası

Journal:

Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.22 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı, pp.602-641

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001303204

pISSN:

1303-0094

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The Republic of Turkey, which was founded a century ago, as the successor of the Ottoman Empire in the Anatolian peninsula, continues its existence as a medium-sized state in the international system by following the Turkish foreign policy, the general principles of which were determined by the founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Turkish foreign policy, which generally adopted a rational and realistic approach shaped according to the principles of status quo and Westernism during the Ataturk period, has undergone some changes according to the cyclical changes over time. The Republic of Turkey, which generally followed an anti-revisionist, status quo, and realistic foreign policy line until the 2000s after Ataturks death, began to adopt a new approach when the Justice and Development Party came to power alone in 2002. This new approach, referred to as Strategic Depth, has taken Turkish foreign policy beyond the traditional line and introduced a proactive and versatile foreign policy approach. Turkey has moved away from the Western axis and it has Neo-Ottomanism goals. The new foreign policy approach helped Turkey solve its problems with its neighbors and increased its effectiveness in international politics for a certain period. However, global and regional developments caused Turkey to become isolated in foreign policy over time. In this study, the changes in the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey since its establishment were examined by dividing it into periods. The policies followed by Turkey against the important developments that took place in these periods were tried to be put forward and analyzed.

 The Republic of Turkey, which was founded a century ago, as the successor of the Ottoman Empire in the Anatolian peninsula, continues its existence as a medium-sized state in the international system by following the Turkish foreign policy, the general principles of which were determined by the founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Turkish foreign policy, which generally adopted a rational and realistic approach shaped according to the principles of status quo and Westernism during the Ataturk period, has undergone some changes according to the cyclical changes over time. The Republic of Turkey, which generally followed an anti-revisionist, status quo, and realistic foreign policy line until the 2000s after Ataturks death, began to adopt a new approach when the Justice and Development Party came to power alone in 2002. This new approach, referred to as Strategic Depth, has taken Turkish foreign policy beyond the traditional line and introduced a proactive and versatile foreign policy approach. Turkey has moved away from the Western axis and it has Neo-Ottomanism goals. The new foreign policy approach helped Turkey solve its problems with its neighbors and increased its effectiveness in international politics for a certain period. However, global and regional developments caused Turkey to become isolated in foreign policy over time. In this study, the changes in the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey since its establishment were examined by dividing it into periods. The policies followed by Turkey against the important developments that took place in these periods were tried to be put forward and analyzed.

 The Republic of Turkey, which was founded a century ago, as the successor of the Ottoman Empire in the Anatolian peninsula, continues its existence as a medium-sized state in the international system by following the Turkish foreign policy, the general principles of which were determined by the founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Turkish foreign policy, which generally adopted a rational and realistic approach shaped according to the principles of status quo and Westernism during the Ataturk period, has undergone some changes according to the cyclical changes over time. The Republic of Turkey, which generally followed an anti-revisionist, status quo, and realistic foreign policy line until the 2000s after Ataturks death, began to adopt a new approach when the Justice and Development Party came to power alone in 2002. This new approach, referred to as Strategic Depth, has taken Turkish foreign policy beyond the traditional line and introduced a proactive and versatile foreign policy approach. Turkey has moved away from the Western axis and it has Neo-Ottomanism goals. The new foreign policy approach helped Turkey solve its problems with its neighbors and increased its effectiveness in international politics for a certain period. However, global and regional developments caused Turkey to become isolated in foreign policy over time. In this study, the changes in the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey since its establishment were examined by dividing it into periods. The policies followed by Turkey against the important developments that took place in these periods were tried to be put forward and analyzed.

 Osmanlı İmparatorluğunun Anadolu yarımadasındaki ardılı olarak bundan yüzyıl önce kurulan Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, genel ilkeleri kurucu önder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk tarafından belirlenen Türk dış politikasını takip ederek uluslararası sistemde orta büyüklükte bir devlet olarak varlığını sürdürmektedir. Atatürk döneminde genel olarak statükoculuk ve Batıcılık ilkelerine göre şekillenen rasyonel ve gerçekçi bir yaklaşım benimseyen Türk dış politikası, zaman içinde yaşanan konjoktürel değişimlere göre bazı değişikliklere uğramıştır. Atatürkün ölümünden sonra 2000li yıllara gelinceye kadar genel olarak anti-revizyonist, statüskocu ve gerçekçi bir dış politika çizgisi izleyen Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisinin 2002de tek başına iktidara gelmesiyle birlikte yeni bir yaklaşım benimsemeye başlamıştır. Stratejik Derinlik olarak ifade edilen bu yeni yaklaşım, Türk dış politikasını geleneksel çizginin dışına çıkararak pro-aktif ve çok yönlü bir dış politika anlayışı getirmiştir. Bu nedenle idealist ve maceracı olmakla nitelendirilen bu yaklaşım, Türkiyenin Batı ekseninden çıktığı ve Yeni-Osmanlıcılık hedefleri olduğu gerekçesiyle eleştirilere uğramıştır. Benimsenen yeni dış politika yaklaşımı belirli bir dönem Türkiyenin komşularıyla sorunlarını çözmesine ve uluslararası politikada etkinliğini arttırırken yaşanan küresel ve bölgesel gelişmeler zaman içinde Türkiyenin dış politikada yalnızlaşmasına neden olmuştur. Bu çalışmada kuruluşundan itibaren Türkiye Cumhuriyetinin dış politikasında yaşanan değişimler dönemlere ayrılarak incelenmiştir. Bu dönemlerde meydana gelen önemli gelişmeler karşısında Türkiyenin izlediği politikalar ortaya konularak analiz edilmeye çalışılmıştır.

Article Details

The First Century of Turkish Foreign Policy

Authors:

Mesut Şöhret

Publisher:

Gaziantep University

Main Topics:

Türk Dış Politikası

Journal:

Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.22 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı, pp.602-641

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001303204

pISSN:

1303-0094

Turkish Foreign Policy

Turkish Foreign Policy during the Atatürk Era

Turkish Foreign Policy during Second World War

Turkish Foreign Policy during the Cold War Era

Turkish Foreign Policy during the AK Party Era.Türk Dış Politikası

Atatürk Dönemi Türk Dış Politikası

İkinci Dünya Savaşı Dönemi Türk Dış Politikası

Soğuk Savaş Dönemi Türk Dış Politikası

AK Parti Dönemi Türk Dış Politikası

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Mesut Şöhret

Publisher: Gaziantep University

Main Topics: Türk Dış Politikası

Journal: Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.22 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı, pp.602-641

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001303204

pISSN: 1303-0094

Issues

Authors:

Mesut Şöhret

Publisher:

Gaziantep University

Main Topics:

Türk Dış Politikası

Journal:

Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.22 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı, pp.602-641

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001303204

pISSN:

1303-0094