Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Spring 2017

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:41:00 GMT

Turkey has been experiencing a transformation process since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. Then President of Turkey, Turgut Özal, instigated a program of change; however, his successors failed to continue the process. Throughout the 1990s, Turkey was trapped into unstable coalition governments and it was unable to initiate a large-scale reform package. It was when the AK Party came to power in 2002 that Turkey initiated a comprehensive program for the reconstruction of the state.

Turkish Foreign Policy under the AK Party

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:45:00 GMT

In its 15 years as Turkey’s ruling party, the AK Party has left its imprint on foreign policy. Besides bringing its own style to bear in dealing with Turkey’s long-standing issues of foreign policy, the AK Party has also diversified both the areas and the tools of Turkish foreign policy. In its early years, after dealing with the very urgent issues in Turkey’s immediate vicinity, the party focused its agenda on increasing Turkey’s engagement with neighboring regions. It also worked to diversify the nature of Turkey’s relationships with traditional allies and started to use international aid, conflict resolution, mediation mechanisms, and Turkey’s presence in international organizations as tools of foreign policy.

Reforming Turkey’s Democracy

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:30:00 GMT

The constitutional amendments approved by the referendum of April 16, 2017 are not only a positive step toward renewal of Turkish law and the structure of its election system, but also a step that initiates reform in all dimensions of Turkey’s political system. This commentary argues that Turkey’s transition to a presidential system marks the beginning of a reform process that will strengthen the relationship between the public and the government and will result in the transition of Turkey towards a full democracy. Accordingly, it analyzes some of the main changes that can be expected in the post referendum period.

Anti-Turkey Sentiment in Europe during the Referendum Process

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:20:00 GMT

In each era, relations with Europe have constituted one of the most significant areas of Turkish foreign policy. The commentary addresses the interventions into Turkish politics, and the manipulations of different factions in Europe during the process of constitutional referendum held in Turkey on April 16, 2017. The commentary presents the lack of respect for reciprocal sovereignty by examining the policies of ultra left, ultra right and center politicians relating to Turkey during the referendum process.

Deciphering the Mindset behind the anti-Turkey Bias in European Reporting

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:10:00 GMT

Deliberately Misunderstanding Turkey 101 – a new hot pick in European journalism studies? Has fair and objective mainstream reporting about Turkey become extinct? After the Gezi Park protests 2013 –which the author labels ‘the failed park coup’– via a real military coup attempt in 2016 and the “Yes” vote in the April 2017 constitutional referendum, Turkish news reported in Europe is ever more biased. The article presents examples of recent and deliberate misrepresentation of facts about Turkey and aims to understand underlying negative currents in Europe’s political classes.

Asia Heading Rightward: Embarking on a New Era

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:00:00 GMT

For decades, support for Palestine was one of the most important causes taken up by many Asian countries. The Soviet Union's collapse ushered the continent into a more realist era. Consequently, most Asian states either shifted to the right or were replaced by rightists. This shift represented a major setback for the Palestinian freedom struggle; where its major traditional supporters; leftists and Muslims, were marginalized either by realist politicians or by the engagement of people with their domestic problems. The paper tries to understand the major characteristics and motives of this approach.

The Political Economy of AK Party Rule in Turkey: From a Regulatory to a Developmental State?

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:52:00 GMT

The macroeconomic and financial stability orientation of AK Party governments, with their emphasis on fiscal discipline and the regulatory function of the state in the financial system, has allowed the Turkish economy to firmly withstand several internal and external shocks. Nevertheless, low economic growth, as well as high inflation, interest, and unemployment rates, and an unsustainable current account deficit continue to be the main challenges ahead. In the face of these challenges, AK Party started to follow a developmentalist discourse. Turkey’s transition to the status of a developmental state requires a comprehensive industrial, technological strategy so that different policy areas are in coordination with one another. For this purpose, public organizations need to improve their organizational capabilities and their communications with the real sector.

Thorny Relations with the EU under AK Party Rule: Challenges and Prospects

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:40:00 GMT

Turkey-EU relations have historical significance in terms of politics, societal structures along with the longevity of Turkey’s EU accession process. The relationship between them should not be seen as one in which the EU requires and Turkey fulfills accordingly. A multi-dimensional and reciprocal approach is necessary to evaluate the flow of relations rather than short-term or daily political ups and downs. This paper analyzes the relationship between Turkey and the EU under successive AK Party governments in chronological order, along with political and social reflections by focusing on the main turning points and considering the development of relations in the long-run of politics.

Rise and Fall of the AK Party’s Kurdish Peace Initiatives

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:30:00 GMT

This study analyzes the peace and reconciliation initiatives of the AK Party governments (2002 until 2017) to address the Kurdish Question, with a special focus on the Reconciliation Process. Steps taken throughout the Reconciliation Process and the strengths and weaknesses of these steps are discussed. It is argued that the main challenges and shortcomings were the shifting political priorities of the Kurdish political actors, the changing balance of power within Turkish domestic politics, new opportunities presented to the Kurdish Movement by the Syrian civil war and the uncertainties Turkey faced due to this war. The main conclusion of the paper is that the regional turmoil, especially the ongoing civil wars in Syria and Iraq, is the major determinant that blocked the Reconciliation Process.

15 Years of AK Party Rule: An Evaluation in Terms of Health and Health Policies

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:20:00 GMT

This article aims to evaluate the 15 years of leadership of the AK Party in terms of health and health policies using the Health System Framework of the WHO. It can be noted that the AK Party government has improved almost all components of Turkey’s health system over the course of their 15-year tenure. Furthermore, these improvements have contributed positively to the prosperity of Turkish society, particularly its health status indicators. What should be done next? It is important that the health care field be designed and continuously improved to create sustainable policies and strategies positively associated with the Health Transformation Program and to cope with dynamic challenges such as the ageing population, changes in disease prevalence, new technologies, etc.

Transformation of the Ennahda Movement from Islamic Jama’ah to Political Party

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:10:00 GMT

The Ennahda Movement, whose foundations were laid in Tunisia at the beginning of the 1970s by Rached Ghannouchi and his friends, has continued its existence as an Islamic movement for many years, and has acquired the identity of a political party. This article analyzes the transformation of the Ennahda Movement –the role model of political transformations for Islamic movements in the Arab world post Arab Spring– from a religious movement to a political party. The article also addresses issues such as the role of the Ennahda Party in the democratization process started in Tunisia after the Arab Spring, its contributions to the new constitution, and its influence in the governments in which it has participated.

Re-evaluating Iran-Egypt Relations: A Look at the Evolving Geopolitical Context

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:00:00 GMT

Egypt under President Abdel Fatteh el-Sisi appears committed to avoid falling into the contentious Sunni-Shia divide by reconfiguring its security considerations based on the recognition of new circumstances that prioritize stability above sectarian and ethnic identity concerns. While Egypt is unlikely to fundamentally alter its foreign policy anytime soon, largely due to its economic dependency on rich Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, its recalibration of relations with Iran has assumed a new level of importance. The growing threat of violent extremism to destabilize the regional order and state-system is undermining old political alliances. This paper provides a systematic attempt to examine the prospects of Egypt’s foreign policy changes and their regional implications, particularly for its economic dependency on Saudi Arabia.

What Constitutes the State’s Culture of Political Violence?

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:44:00 GMT

A culture of political violence is the configuration of factors which exist lastingly in a political subject’s milieu, and determine if and to what extent the use of violence is acceptable to and allowable by this subject. This theoretical category is highly applicable to explain why some states, political groups, social movements, and individuals use political violence eagerly while others are reluctant to do so. Its model may consist of various analytical levels determined according to the type of its subject.

The Economic Transformation of Turkey: Neoliberalism and State Intervention

Wed, 04 Jan 2017 14:39:00 GMT

The Economic Transformation of Turkey: Neoliberalism and State Intervention by Nilgün Önder analyses the development of labor relations in Turkey from 1980-1991. Apparently, the book is assigned a new meaning, considering the events of July 15, 2016. Nevertheless, history teaches us, and the author’s book confirms this once again. The book is comprised of an introduction and four chapters, which are further subdivided. In the introduction, the author discusses the motivation of the research and the theoretical structure succinctly and in a structured way.

The Ottoman Culture of Defeat: The Balkan Wars and Their Aftermath

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 14:53:00 GMT

The Balkan Wars are among the harshest defeats the Ottomans ever experienced. The shock that was felt with the loss of the Balkan territories, the bulk of which had been conquered even before Istanbul, was quite profound. The defeat of Ottomans in the Balkan Wars provoked the emergence of various publications on the defeat’s causes and the possible directions the Empire could take to avenge the defeat and regenerate. Through a careful study of these publications, Eyal Ginio, in his book The Ottoman Culture of Defeat: The Balkan Wars and Their Aftermath, deals with the Balkan Wars’ impact on Ottoman society.

Iran and Russian Imperialism: The Ideal Anarchists, 1800-1914

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:05:00 GMT

Moritz Deutschmann in his book Iran and Russian Imperialism: the Ideal Anarchists, 1800-1914, seeks to depict a broad and comprehensive picture of Russia’s policy towards Iran, as one of its most important neighbors in Asia. It covers a key and critical era in Iran’s modern history. The Iran and Russia wars, the Turkmanchay and Gulistan treaties and the Constitutional Revolution in Iran are important events that took shape during this era, with long-lasting effects on every aspect of political life in Iran, even up to now.

Multilateralism in the 21st Century: Europe’s Quest for Effectiveness

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:16:00 GMT

International politics in the 21st century is distinctive in several ways. First, new regional powers have emerged. In addition, certain international organizations, NGOs or non-state actors, have become prominent and unignorable actors in world politics. Furthermore, issues such as security, trade, migration and climate all have become more interconnected. In this respect, multilateralism, which is one of the most contested concepts in international relations (IR), has gained more importance in this century, due to increased interest in solving issues more peacefully with the participation of diversified actors. As one of the prominent actors, the European Union (EU) also has come to the fore with its advocacy of multilateralism in the current age. Thus, Bouchard et al. thoroughly research the evolution of multilateralism and examine whether it is implemented effectively by the EU in this edited volume, Multilateralism in the 21st Century: Europe’s Quest for Effectiveness.

Identities and Foreign Policies in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus: The Other Europes

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:23:00 GMT

The newly independent countries across the post-Soviet space faced a set of ontological ambiguities following the implosion of the Soviet Union. In addition, the ethnic, ideological and religious mosaic of the post-Soviet space became more relevant to the political dynamics in the region.

Democratic Institutions and Authoritarian Rule in Southeast Europe

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:29:00 GMT

Democratization is an ongoing process. Various social, economic, and historical dynamics play a vital role in the process of democratization. In this process, scholars like Fukuyama, Samuel P. Huntington and others have defined various trends and waves of democracy. The process of democratization is still going on in post-communist countries. Experts on the democratization process define such transformation as “hybrid democracies,” “delegative,” “defective,” “authoritarian,” “Potempkin,” “ethnocratic,” “limited,” and “false,” among others (p. 14). In the Latin American and post-communist European contexts, the term ‘third wave of democracy’ was used. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, most of the post-communist countries adopted democratic institutions.

The Courtiers of Civilization: A Study of Diplomacy

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:38:00 GMT

At best an honorable spy, at worst an insipid appeaser, and presumed by some to be a relic of the past, professional diplomats are often the target of unflattering characterizations. Sasson Sofer seeks to disabuse readers of such notions by presenting a theoretically-informed discussion about the history of diplomacy and the underappreciated functions of its practitioners in international politics. The author is a seasoned scholar of diplomacy: an emeritus professor of International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with an extensive list of publications on the history and practice of diplomacy. The Courtiers of Civilization is the culmination of a career immersed in International Relations Theory, diplomacy, and decision-making, as evidenced by the book’s wealth of secondary and theoretical sources.

Investigating Terrorism: Current Political, Legal and Psychological Issues

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:48:00 GMT

In Investigating Terrorism: Current Political, Legal and Psychological Issues, the contributors investigate the relationship between terrorism and the police, and how this relationship affects societies from both political and judicial aspects. The book reviews the tactics police use in fighting terror, challenges the procedures of interviewing terrorist suspects in the United Kingdom, and makes cross-comparisons with other countries. Because the editor and the contributors are mostly experts active in the United Kingdom, their views are largely influenced by particular events such as the July 7th 2005 bombings and Irish terrorist campaigns.

States in Disguise: Causes of State Support for Rebel Groups

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:59:00 GMT

Non-state violence by rebel groups, including terrorists, has become a major headache for policy makers across the world. San-Akca’s book comes at the right time to contribute to understanding “why and how non-state armed groups emerge, endure and disappear” (p. 10). Essentially, the author investigates the motivating factors behind the unofficial cooperation between states and non-state armed groups, by using an empirical study of 355 cases of states deliberately supporting rebels, and 342 cases of rebels obtaining support by default from states during the period from 1945 to 2010.

Stratejik İstihbarat ve Ulusal Güvenlik

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 16:11:00 GMT

In Stratejik İstihbarat ve Ulusal Güvenlik (Strategic Intelligence and National Security), Merve Seren scrutinizes intelligence by its ‘own’ strategic relevance and displays the mutual interaction of ‘strategy’ and ‘intelligence.’ The subject matter is the construction of strategic intelligence and its role in the course of history, with a clear focus on its ideational evolvement. The main design of the study is to highlight the sine qua non feature of ‘strong’ and ‘realistic’ strategic intelligence for national security strategies and the policies of state actors.