Turkey's Foreign Policy in Post-Soviet Eurasia

Abstract

The central question explored in this article is what should motivate decision makers in Turkey when formulating the nation's strategies toward the Turkic countries of Eurasia. Should it be pan-Islamism that advocates the unity of all Muslims in the world? Pan-Turkism, based on the unity of Turkic peoples living across Eurasia? Pan-Turanism, asserting the unity of Turanic people throughout the world? Or Ataturk's pragmatism, which advocated progressive Turkism? It would be unrealistic to revive objectives that, when tested by the rulers of the Ottoman Empire, failed to prevent its collapse in 1918. What Turkey needs now are realistic policies based on common strategic interests that are geographical and relevant, and an active skilled leadership similar to Ataturk's, whose pragmatism provided the driving force behind the founding and survival of modern Turkey.