Identity and Turkish Foreign Policy: The Kemalist Influence in Cyprus and the Caucasus (Library of International Relations)

Turkey's foreign policy is usually represented as essentially peaceful, using diplomacy and multilateralism in the resolution of its conflicts with other states. Here, Umut Uzer offers a necessary corrective to this standard analysis by revealing the Kemalist influence in Turkey's state ideology. This defined the identity of the state as Turkish, embracing both Turkish and Turkic peoples as ""Turks,"" and resulting in responsibilities towards Turks residing beyond its borders and a more engaged foreign policy that ranged from declarations of support for ethnic kin outside Turkey to outright takeover of territory. Focusing on the annexation of Hatay from Syria in 1939, Turkey's involvement in Cyprus culminating in a military operation in 1974 and its policy toward the Karabagh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the 1990s, Identity and Turkish Foreign Policy is indispensable for all those interested in Middle East politics and international relations as well as Turkey more specifically. 'this Is A Sophisticated Analysis Of Kemalist Turkish Foreign Policy That Breaks New Ground By Demonstrating How It Has Not Always Followed A Peaceful And Non-expansionist Path Despite Its Usual Claims. To Build His Case The Author Analyses Turkish Foreign Policy From The Establishment Of The Turkish Republic In The 1920s, And Specifically Towards Cyprus Since The 1950s And Nagorno-karabagh And The Turkic World Since The 1990s. Throughout The Manuscript The Author Exhibits A Mastery Over The Facts And Their Interpretation That Lends Credence To His Thesis. This Book Will Be A Valuable Addition To The Existing Literature.' 'this Book Is An Original Piece Of Scholarship...and Offers A Novel Framework For The Comprehension Of Turkish Foreign Policy. Uzer Makes A Number Of Original Observations And Analyses, Revealing The Nationalist Element In Kemalism, Its Impact On A Number Of Foreign Policy Decisions, As Well As The Preconditions For Turkish Involvement In Its Neighbouring Areas. With Its Lucid Analysis Going Deeper Than The Conventional Wisdom That Turkish Foreign Policy Has Been Peaceful And Closed To Outside Influence, This Is A Welcome Addition To Turkish Studies And Should Attract The Interest Of The Academic Community As Well As The Foreign Policy Establishment In Major Capitals.' Turkey's Foreign Policy Is Usually Represented As Peaceful, Using Diplomacy And Multilateralism In The Resolution Of Its Conflicts With Other States. Here, Umut Uzer Offers A Necessary Corrective To This Standard Analysis By Revealing The Kemalist Influence In Turkey's State Ideology. This Defined The Identity Of The State As Turkish, Resulting In Responsibilities Towards Turks Residing Beyond Its Borders, And A More Engaged Foreign Policy That Ranged From Declarations Of Support For Ethnic Kin Outside Turkey To Outright Takeover Of Territory. Drawing On Theoretical And Cultural Factors, Uzer Describes The Specific Notion Of Identity That Underlay Kemalism, And Traces Its Continuing Influence On Varieties Of Turkish Nationalisms And Their Respective Foreign Policy Outcomes With Regard To 'dis Turkler' (external Turks). Kemalism Identified The State As Neither Ottoman Nor Muslim But Turkish, And Traced Turkish History Beyond Anatolia To Central Asia, Embracing Both The Turkish People Of Modern Turkey And The Turkic Peoples Of The Caucasus And Central Asia As 'turks'. Although Never Expressed As A National Crusade To Save Fellow Turks, This Expansive Definition Allows Surges Of Concern For Those Considered To Be Ethnic Kin Beyond The Modern Turkish Heartland. Such Action To 'protect' Turks Living In Foreign Countries, Uzer Shows, Is Sanctioned Under Certain Conditions - If And Only If It Serves The Higher Goal Of State Interests. He Analyses The Simultaneous Influence Of Rational Calculation Of State Interests And Deepens His Analysis Of Internal Factors With A Consideration Of External Ones. He Thus Offers A Penetrating Understanding Of The Preconditions For And Varying Levels Of Turkish Intervention In The Affairs Of 'external Turks'. This Involvement Ranged From Material And Verbal Support Given To Turkish Cypriots And Azeris, To Lobbying On Their Behalf At International Organizations, And Further To Direct Military Action. Through A Close Examination Of The Annexation Of Hatay From Syria In 1939, Turkey's Involvement In Cyprus Culminating In A Military Operation In 1974, And Its Policy Toward The Karabagh Dispute Between Azerbaijan And Armenia In The 1990s, Uzer Shows That Where The State Found A National Consensus, Often Articulated As The Need To Save 'external Turks', As Well As A Reasonably Favourable International Climate, It Did Not Hesitate To Use Force Against Its Neighbours. With A Nuanced And Comprehensive View Of Turkey's Predisposition To Interventionist Foreign Policy, And A Discussion Of The Implications For The Future, Identity And Turkish Foreign Policy Is Indispensable For All Those Interested In Middle East Politics And International Relations As Well As Turkey More Specifically. --book Jacket. Introduction: The Role Of Ideas And Interests In Turkish Foreign Policy -- 1. State Identity And Foreign Policy: The Impact Of Ideas And Power -- 2. The Three Paths Of Turkish Nationalism And Kemalist State Identity -- 3. Turkish Foreign Policy Analysis -- 4. The Annexation Of Hatay: Exception Or Harbinger Of Future Policy? -- 5. Turkey's National Cause: Cyprus In Turkish Foreign Policy -- 6. The Karabagh Issue And The Emergence Of The Turkic World. Umut Uzer. This Is A Revised Version Of Author's Doctoral Dissertation At The Politics Department Of The Univ. Of Virginia. Earlier Version Of Chapter 4 Was Published Under The Title Turkish Annexation Of Hatay In The Journal Of South Asian And Middle Eastern Studies, V.30: No.3, Spring 2007. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 214-228) And Index. "I.B.Tauris in association with the Iran Heritage Foundation One of the most prominent Muslim scholars and scientists of the medieval era, the Persian polymath Nasir al-Din Tusi (1201-1274) joined the Shi'a Nizari Ismaili community at a young age, as the armies of Genghis Khan poured across his homeland. In the course of a long and eminent career, first under the patronage of the Ismailis at the fortress of Alamut, and later with the conquering Mongols, he produced over 150 works on diverse subjects from theology and philosophy to mathematics and astronomy. His principal works on Ismaili doctrine, the Rawda-yi taslim (The Paradise of Submission) and the autobiographical Sayr wa suluk (Contemplation and Action), are already available in English translation by S J Badakhchani. In this volume, he offers new critical editions and translations of three shorter Ismaili works by Tusi, namely Aghaz wa anjam (The Beginning and the End), Tawalla wa tabarra (Solidarity and Dissociation), and Matlub al-mu'minin (Desideratum of the Faithful). In these three treatises, Tusi provides concise interpretations of key motifs in Ismaili doctrine, with special reference to the primordial nature of man, his earthly existence in relation to the imam, and his destiny in the hereafter."--Bloomsbury publishing. Contents......Page 6 Acronyms and Abbreviations......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Maps......Page 14 Introduction: The Role of Ideas and Interests in Turkish Foreign Policy......Page 16 1. State Identity and Foreign Policy: The Impact of Ideas and Power......Page 30 2. The Three Paths of Turkish Nationalism and Kemalist State Identity......Page 49 3. Turkish Foreign Policy Analysis......Page 70 4. The Annexation of Hatay: Exception or Harbinger of Future Policy?......Page 103 5. Turkey's National Cause: Cyprus in Turkish Foreign Policy......Page 120 6. The Karabagh Issue and the Emergence of the Turkic World......Page 168 Conclusion: Competing Interests and Identities in Turkish Politics......Page 199 Bibliography......Page 229 Index......Page 244