Turkish Presidential Seal |
“TURKOISLAMIC” SYNTHESIS
After
AKP and Erdogan rose to power back in 2002, TURKEY was on the verge of a severe
financial crisis that led to a deal with the IMF and a haircut of 62% on its
deposits. However, TURKEY – facilitated by its political system which allows
for more authoritarian policies to be implemented- is now ranked among the
countries with the highest rates of development (8.5%) and claims for a more
influential role in the regional arena. Its comeback provided it with the
opportunity to pursue a more extrovert foreign policy, seeking to exploit
current tensions and long standing divisions. Such a case are the BALKANS where
TURKEY tries to gain access and promote its geopolitical interests by means of
economy, diplomacy and religion, all under the concept of neo-Ottomanism.
Read related article:
TURKEY GROWS FASTER THAN EUROZONE'S MAJOR ECONOMIES at
This
proactive policy is neither an innovation of Erdogan’s government nor of its
Minister of Foreign Affairs Davutoglou. The founder is considered to be Turgut
Ozal who introduced the concept of Turkoislamic
synthesis as a means to extend TURKEY’S sphere of influence. Later on, when
Ismail Cem was minister of Foreign Affairs (1999-2002), he too opted for a
multidimensional pro-active foreign policy yet with a firm Western orientation.
TURKEY’S SHORT-TERM AND MEDIUM-TERM FOREIGN POLICY IN THE
REGION ARE THE STRENGTHENING OF BOSNIA AND ALBANIA
In
both these cases but also under Erdogan, TURKEY longed to take advantage of
current instabilities in order to redefine its position in the new world order
following the end of the Cold War. When referring to Turkish Foreign Policy
under the AKP, one cannot but refer to Ahmet Davutoglu -chief advisor at the
Prime Minister’s Office during the period 2002-2009 and from 2009 on, Minister
of Foreign Affairs-who seems to be the most crucial figure. The so -called “Davutoglu’s Doctrine” which is
described in his famous book “The strategic depth” seems to find a literal
application in AKP’s policies. With regard to the BALKANS, the two most
important short-term and medium-term goals of TURKISH foreign policy in the
region are the strengthening of BOSNIA and ALBANIA and the creation of an
international legal framework that could set the minorities of TURKISH origin
under the protection of the TURKISH state. Under this legal framework, TURKEY
should seek to ensure such provisions that would provide it with the pretext to
intervene in issues related with the Muslim minorities in the BALKANS.
In
order to promote TURKISH foreign policy’s interests, he proposes as a guideline
the use of intra-and extra-regional balances in order to prevent the formation
of a BALKAN coalition. Recognizing the existence of three historical fields of influence – the Holy Roman Empire of the GERMAN
Nation, the Orthodox-Slavic heritage and the Ottoman Empire, he suggests that
the U.S. will choose to support the Islamic factor in the area to prevent the
increase of influence of GERMANY or RUSSIA.
Read related article: GREATER ALBANIA at
TURKEY
gains foothold in the BALKANS on the grounds of common history, the presence of
approximately 1,000,000 people of TURKISH origin in these countries, the
geographical proximity, its growing economic presence and a foreign policy that
aims to secure allies in TURKEY’S integration to the EU through the
establishment of friendly relations with BALKAN countries. Given the volatile
situation in the BALKANS where national fermentations have not been completed,
combined with US political disengagement in the region, accompanied with
reluctance or failure to foster institutions that will ensure the sustainability
of the state to whose creation they contributed, a stabilizing actor is
considered essential for the region. Such a role was agreeably taken over by TURKEY.
The main target of TURKEY’S BALKAN policy, as shaped by the AKP, is to prove to
the EUROPEANS that it has western features. To alleviate fears of establishing
a zone of influence in the area, it assures that it wishes the integration of
these countries to NATO and the EU.
Read related article:
TURKEY INVESTING
HEAVILY IN BIH at
As
Özden Zeynep Oktav aptly notes: “Seen in retrospect, it can be said that TURKISH
activism in the BALKANS has always been nourished by the crisis situation in
the region. TURKEY started to become active in the region due to the crises in BOSNIA
– HERZEGOVINA & KOSOVO. However, the important issue is that during both
crises TURKEY has acted within the framework of NATO, the EU and the West in
general.
TURKEYS GEOPOLITICAL TACTICS IN THE BALKANS
The
cornerstone of TURKEY’S BALKAN policy is to secure influence in BOSNIA –
HERZEGOVINA, which seems to include three levels: at a local level by
encouraging dialogue among peoples constitutionally recognized in the country,
at a regional level, with pressure on BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, SERBIA and CROATIA to
develop stronger links between them and thus overcome the conflict, at an
international level by undertaking diplomatic initiatives promoting the
territorial integrity of the country and its integration to the Euro-Atlantic
institutions. President Abdulah Gul’ visit back in October 2009 in Belgrade –
the first TURKISH officer’s visit after 29 years- marked the resumption of
relations between SERBIA and TURKEY. On the 24th of April 2010, the
presidents of TURKEY, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA and SERBIA signed the
Istanbul Declaration on Peace and Stability in the BALKANS which guarantees the
territorial integrity of BOSNIA and commits the signatories to improve
cooperation and to ensure mutual commitment to the path towards EUROPEAN
integration. (This initiative is part of the rationale for multilateral
agreements in the BALKANS in which TURKEY will participate in order to ensure
diplomatic footholds). Furthermore, in February 2008 TURKEY recognized KOSOVO’S
independence and has committed itself to promote its interests internationally.
Finally, TURKEY strongly supports the efforts of “MACEDONIA” -which has been
recognized under its constitutional name since 1991- for achieving full
membership in NATO and the EU, before finding a solution to the name dispute
with Athens. In December 2010, the Ministers of Defence of Turkey and
“Macedonia” signed an agreement on economic and military cooperation. At a NATO
summit in Chicago (20 – 21 May 2012), although the issue of enlargement of the
Alliance was not officially in the agenda, TURKEY did not miss the opportunity
to move diplomatically to promote the nominations of FYROM, BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA, MONTENEGRO and GEORGIA.
Read related article:
TURKEY......
EMERGING POWER at http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html
and
NEW EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS POSE A
THREAT TO STABILITY IN THE REGION?
At http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/the-balkans.html
and
EXTREMISTS ESTABLISH FOOTHOLD IN THE
BALKANS
COLLAPSE OF COMMUNIST REGIMES PROMPTED ISLAMIC
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE ARAB GULF STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA TO
PROMOTE WAHHABISM
Another
important issue that has risen after the collapse of the communist regimes and
the consequent lifting of prohibitions related to religious practices, is the
redefinition of the role of religion. Islam was used as a differentiating
factor to ethnic groups, especially in KOSOVO and MACEDONIA. The traditional
elite and the rural populations were reluctant to be identified as Muslims,
preferring to highlight their national origin. For instance, the ALBANIAN
Muslim community perceives itself as a cultural minority in EUROPE and
gradually adopted its own national myth, based on the rejection of the
religious divisions among ethnic ALBANIANS. The vacuum created by this regime
change provided an opportunity for Islamic Non-Governmental Organizations,
closely associated with the ARAB GULF states and SAUDI ARABIA, to promote the
extreme version of Islam as proposed by Wahhabism – the religious
fundamentalist movement within Islam that advocates the return to the teachings
of the basic texts of Islam (Koran, Hadith, Igkma). Given Islam’s radicalization,
the prevalence of extreme religious tendencies in the Islamic world, and the proven connection of Islamic NGO’s with
Al-Qaeda, the U.S. saw TURKEY as a country that
could act as a
counterbalance. It is important to remark that TURKEY was presented as a moderate
Islamic actor rather than a secular Islamic state. This verbal change bears
more than a simple symbolism. Instead, it emphasizes moderation as a means
to secure network communication with the countries where Muslim populations
inhabit and alleviate the pressure toward secularism and the imposition of a
Western-style democracy. However, despite the initial fear of the
radicalization of the BALKANS, the upgrade of the role of religion did not put
into question the relationship between religion and the state and the social
structures of those countries.
Read related article: 6
PART DOSSIER ON WAHHABISM IN BIH at
TURKEYS INFLUENTIAL SECRETARIAT FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS (SRA)
In
terms of TURKISH penetration in the BALKANS with Islam as a starting point,
AKP’s government uses the TURKISH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY (TIKA) and the Secretariat for Religious Affairs, while government
involvement is recorded in religious and parastatal organizations in the
region. TIKA was an organization founded during Turgut Ozal’s presidency as a
means of an active foreign policy within the concept of TURKOISLAMIC synthesis.
TIKA as an international relief agency can act only in States which are
officially classified as “developing”. Therefore, the actions have been limited
to the Western Balkans and could not penetrate in GREECE and BULGARIA. TIKA
takes up symbolic actions such as rebuilding mosques or programs such as
assisting in rural development and providing health care. Rebuilding mosques is
considered important in order to raise the morale of the Muslim communities.
Also, it takes a symbolic character of the restoration and rehabilitation of
the Ottoman heritage and a reaffirmation of the role of TURKEY as a protector
of Muslims in the region. The Secretariat for Religious Affairs is under the
Prime Minister’s Office and is therefore independent of the Foreign Ministry
and its action goes beyond the limits imposed by traditional diplomacy, thus
allowing it to work with Islamic organizations. Since 1995, it organizes the “EUROPEAN
Islamic Council”, in which participants are the heads of the Islamic
directorates from 38 countries (Central ASIA and the BALKANS). Since 2007, the
Presidency of the Council decided to hold an annual meeting of the Heads of the
BALKAN Muslim communities.
President Abdullah Gül received Bosnia and Herzegovina's Reis-ul-Ulema (Grand Mufti), Hussein Kavazovic, and his accompanying delegation at the Çankaya Presidential Palace. |
Read related article on Husein Effendi Kavazovic at:
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/bosnias-dangerous-tango.html
and
INFLUENTIAL ISLAMIC COMMUNITY IN BOSNIA
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html
SRA’S RESPONSIBILITY AND INFLUENCE GOES BEYOND THE
TRADITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE BORDERS WITHIN THE NATIONAL TERRITORY
The
Secretariat was also established after an Ozal’s initiative to restore the
faith to traditional Islam. Its responsibilities include the appointment of
imams, the payment of their salaries, the organization of religious activities;
it acts as the highest religious authority in matters of doctrine and faith.
After the 1980 coup, it began to assume responsibilities that went beyond the
traditional administrative borders within the national territory and began to
operate in countries where there were TURKISH immigrants. Parastatal
organizations acting in accordance with the TURKISH government also play an
important role, acting through networks that are difficult to detect and
control. The most outstanding example of all is Gulen’s Movement, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BClen_movement)
which has founded a significant number of colleges and universities in the BALKANS
(indicatively, the University of Burch in Sarajevo and the Epoca University in
Tirana). Also, the reconstitution re-recorded and re-Islamic brotherhoods
adjacent to the tradition of Naksibendi.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqshbandi
)
TURKEYS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN THE BALKANS
With
regard to the economic promotion of TURKEY in the region, we see investment in
strategic sectors such as Tele-communications, infrastructure and banking sectors.
Regarding trade relations between TURKEY and the BALKAN countries, a 6.7% of
the total export product of the country is directed to them. The further
expansion of TURKISH exports is stalled by the law quality of its products, the
transparency of the trade process and the working conditions. Analysts foresee
the possibility of a further penetration of TURKISH products if the economic
crises continues, causing GERMAN and FRENCH companies, AUSTRIAN and ITALIAN
banks to withdraw from the area and GREEK investments to decline.
Read related article:
WESTERN ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE LED TO
UNDERESTIMATE TURKEY at http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html
EU BALKAN POLICIES FOSTER TURKISH KEY - LEADER POSITION IN
THE BALKANS
Since
TURKEY’S integration process to the EU delays, it seems no longer willing to
abandon a multifaceted field of action in order to join the lengthy and
collaborative processes of EU. Nonetheless, the integration of friendly-allied countries
in EU can provide support to the TURKISH integration’s efforts. For TURKEY, to
exert political influence in the grade that it will secure regional domination,
a mix of continuous economic crisis and a long-term blockade of the BALKAN
countries from the EU are considered to be the only two factors that will allow
such a development. Brussels’ declining leverage has in turn opened opportunity
for other players such as TURKEY, RUSSIA and CHINA to fill in the gaps.
Read related article:
at DOES TURKEY REALLY NEED THE EU? http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html
and
By
Liountri Christianna
More articles related to TURKEY:
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/turkeys-foreign-policy-poker-game.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-energy-dependency-on-countries.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-erratic-foreign-policies-all.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkey-and-russia.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkey-and-central-asia.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkeys-double-edged-sword-policies-or.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-shiite-persians-versus-wahhabi.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkeys-chess-game.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/warmongerning-between-israel-and-turkey.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-energy-dependency-on-countries.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-erratic-foreign-policies-all.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkey-and-russia.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkey-and-central-asia.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkeys-double-edged-sword-policies-or.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-shiite-persians-versus-wahhabi.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkeys-chess-game.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html
http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/warmongerning-between-israel-and-turkey.html
No comments:
Post a Comment