Contemporary Turkish Foreign Policy

by Yasemin Celik Levine

Overview

Celik examines how the easing of the East-West tensions, the end of the Cold War, and the disintegration of the Soviet Union affects Turkey's foreign policy. During the Cold War, Ankara's role as a front-line state in containing Soviet expansionism had greatly influenced its foreign policy orientation as well as its foreign policy behavior. As such, changes in the structure of the international system were bound to alter the ways in which Turkey interacted with other states in the post-Cold War world.

An examination of Turkish foreign policy, however, shows a high degree of continuity and stability. While Turkey's security environment has improved significantly during the 1990s, political and military considerations continue to drive Ankara's behavior. Furthermore, despite shifts in foreign policy behavior—such as closer relations with the former Soviet republics, active involvement in the Persian Gulf War, and military alliance with Israel—there have been no major alterations in foreign policy orientation. Turkey remains staunchly pro-western and the United States continues to be its most important ally. The post-Cold War era, however, also has brought an element of uncertainty to Turkish foreign policy and raises questions about its direction for the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275965907
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/30/1999
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

YASEMIN CELIK is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Science, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, New York City, where she teaches comparative politics.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
The Foundations of Turkish Foreign Policy
From Neutrality to NATO
Fluctuations in Cold War Foreign Policy
A New Era in Relations with the United States
Relations with the European Union
New Foreign Policy Partners
Conclusion
Selected Bibliography
Index