Re-Defining Turkiye's International Relations: Two Decades of 360[degrees] Foreign Policies.

• Author: Jurgens, Klaus

Introduction

Should the public have a say in, or at least an interest in, the foreign affairs of their country? Professor Christopher Hill, for many years the leading scholar in the field of International Relations, and in particular during his long tenure at the London School of Economics, clearly thinks so and published a landmark book back in 2003. (1) Following the timeframe of this article, the analysis commences on a two-decade-long paradigm shift in the foreign affairs of the Republic of Turkiye. With the start date for comparison being the landslide victory of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in November 2002 under its charismatic, much-cherished, and trusted leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an analysis would fill many scholarly volumes. Hence, readers should be advised that, figuratively speaking, this is just a look at the tip of the success story iceberg.

In his book, The Changing Politics of Foreign Policy, Hill is on a dual mission: to bridge the gap between the popular (or non-academic) perception of foreign policy and academic dismissal of foreign policy analysis as an archaic and irrelevant instrument of the state. In his book, Hill tried to 'liberate' foreign policy from its zealot custodians and 'high priests' who since the 18th century have wrapped it in a veil of mystique 'protecting' it from the realm of public policy and democratic accountability. (2) While foreign policy is commonly associated with international politics by the general population, it has lost favor as a subject of study, research, and teaching among scholars specializing in international relations within academia.

Hill calls for the inclusion of a democratic component in foreign policy formation in conjunction with efficiency and rationality, thereby endowing it with greater effectiveness and popular legitimacy. (3) Hill's reflections allow to put modern Turkiye's bilateral relations and the wider set of foreign policy making into the current proactive approach towards being a global actor.

The important distinction highlighted here will be revisited toward the end of this article. This includes an examination of why the governing AK Party comprehends the significance of transforming Turkiye into a globally respected foreign policy actor. This transformation aims to persuade the electorate that the policy of splendid isolation, which persisted until late in 2002, was fundamentally misguided. In preparation for the upcoming case studies, it is essential to attribute the coining of the term '360-degree foreign policy' to its likely originator, for what appears to be its inaugural usage. In a piece titled "Turkiye Sees Foreign Policy from 360-Degree Angle," Kubra Chohan wrote in May 2018 for Anadolu Agency that "Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has said Turkiye's position in Western alliance does not prevent it from opening up to other strategic regions." (4) Writing for the istanbul-based Daily Sabah, Kalin said: "As it has been the case over the last 16 years, Turkiye sees foreign policy from a 360-degree point of view. It does not consider it as a zero-sum game." (5)

The very essence of modern Turkiye's foreign policy becomes evident: it is entirely possible to be, for example, a leading member of NATO and closely cooperate with Western partners, all while simultaneously establishing successful relations with countries in the North, East, and South. Thus, a crucial gap in academic discourse has been addressed, emphasizing the importance of analyzing foreign policies within the broader context of international relations, as opposed to the reverse. Additionally, the term '360-degree foreign policies' has been introduced and presented within a Turkish context, arguably for the first time. This article now proceeds to examine a select set of case studies within the realm of Turkish foreign policy, specifically those implemented since 2003. Subsequently, the analysis will return to the concluding argument, considering whether foreign policy constitutes an integral component of Turkiye's long-term 100-year strategy, and whether nation branding should encompass foreign policies beyond mere marketing dimensions, encompassing...