Turkey in the Middle East Politics. Political Discourses, Identity and the National Interests

Table of Contents

Introduction

I. The Review on Turkish Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East

I.1 Turkish Foreign Policy and Turkey's Approach to the Middle East after the 1980s

I.1.1 Theoretical Debate on Turkey's Approach to the Middle East

I.1.2 Policy Analysis in Turkish Foreign Policy towards the Middle East

I.2 Limitations of Existing Research

II. Theoretical Framework and Methodology

II.1 Realist Approaches

II.1.1 Limitations of Realist Approaches

II.2 Constructivism

II.2.1 Identity, Interest and Foreign Policy

II.3 Analysis of the Sources and Research Methods

III. The Middle East and Turkish Foreign Policy (1923-1980)

III.1 Ottoman Governance Strategies in the Middle East

III.2 The Emergence of Arab Nationalism and the West in the Middle East

III.3 Turkey's Early Middle East Policy and the West Oriented Foreign Policy Trend

III.4 The Political Ideology Factor on Foreign Policy Setting in Turkey

IV. Turkish Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Period

IV.1 Transformation of Turkish Foreign Policy after the 1980s

IV.2 Neo-Ottomanism as Turkey's Foreign Policy Strategy

IV.3 The Approach of Turkey towards the Middle East

V. Turkey in the Middle East as a Regional Power

V.1 Turkey in Palestine Problem: the Change in Regional Dynamics

V.1.1 Turkey's Involvement in Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

V.1.2 Turkey and Palestine Problem after Israel's Gaza Operation

V.2 The Position of Iraq in Turkey's Neo-Ottomanist Foreign Policy Approach

V.2.1 Turkey and the Gulf War in the Context of Foreign Policy Transformation

V.2.2 Turkey - Iraq Relations after Iraq War

VI. Conclusion

Objectives and Topics

This work evaluates the transformation of Turkish foreign policy towards the Middle East post-1980s, shifting from a rationalist, West-oriented perspective to a multidimensional, identity-based "Neo-Ottomanist" approach. The primary research question explores how changing identities and socio-political dynamics influenced Turkey's ability to act as a significant regional power and mediator.

• Transformation of Turkish foreign policy from the Cold War to the post-1980s period.
• Application of Social Constructivism to explain Turkey's regional identity.
• Analysis of Neo-Ottomanism as a framework for regional engagement.
• Case studies on Turkey's involvement in the Palestinian question and Iraqi politics.
• The impact of domestic socio-political developments on international policy settings.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

I. The Review on Turkish Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East: Provides an overview of existing literature on Turkey's foreign policy transition and discusses the limitations of rationalist research approaches.

II. Theoretical Framework and Methodology: Introduces realist and social constructivist theories to frame the study and outlines the qualitative research methods used.

III. The Middle East and Turkish Foreign Policy (1923-1980): Examines the historical background of Ottoman governance, the rise of Arab nationalism, and Turkey's early Western-oriented policy.

IV. Turkish Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Period: Investigates the empirical transformation of Turkish policy after the 1980s and the conceptualization of Neo-Ottomanism.

V. Turkey in the Middle East as a Regional Power: Analyzes Turkey’s active diplomatic and political involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the reconstruction of post-war Iraq.

VI. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings regarding Turkey’s identity-based foreign policy shift and its effectiveness in increasing regional influence.

Keywords

Turkish Foreign Policy, Middle East, Neo-Ottomanism, Social Constructivism, Identity, National Interest, Palestine, Iraq, Regional Power, Diplomacy, Arab Nationalism, Westernization, Gulf War, Soft Power.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental focus of this research?

The book examines the shift in Turkish foreign policy towards the Middle East since the 1980s, specifically moving from a strictly realist, West-centric approach to one driven by identity, historical connections, and Neo-Ottomanism.

What are the central thematic fields covered?

The central themes include the evolution of Turkish political identity, the regional impact of Neo-Ottomanist strategies, and Turkey’s role as a mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts.

What is the primary objective of this work?

The primary goal is to evaluate the success of the post-1980s Turkish foreign policy transformation by analyzing how identity-based policy actions increased Turkey's political sphere of influence.

Which scientific methodology is employed?

The research utilizes a qualitative methodology, drawing on social constructivism to interpret political discourses and empirical data regarding Turkey's interactions with regional actors.

What is covered in the main body of the text?

The main body covers historical developments from the Ottoman era through the Cold War, the empirical analysis of post-1980s policy changes, and specific case studies involving Palestine and Iraq.

Which keywords characterize the work?

Key terms include Turkish Foreign Policy, Middle East, Neo-Ottomanism, Identity, Social Constructivism, and Regional Power.

How does the author define Neo-Ottomanism in the context of this study?

The author views Neo-Ottomanism as a policy strategy that leverages Turkey's historical, cultural, and religious ties with former Ottoman territories to assert influence and promote stability in the Middle East.

What role does the Palestinian conflict play in Turkey's foreign policy?

The Palestinian issue serves as a primary case study for how Turkey utilizes soft power and identity-based diplomacy to align itself with regional public opinion while attempting to mediate peace.

How has the "Davutoğlu Doctrine" influenced current policy?

The "Strategic Depth" concept introduced by Ahmet Davutoğlu is identified as a critical factor in conceptualizing Turkey's multidimensional foreign policy, emphasizing proactive engagement with neighboring countries.