Turkey and the Western Alliance: Uncomfortable Partnership

German Marshall Fund of the United States, February 26, 2015

Ilter Turan *

Relations between Turkey and its partners in the Atlantic Community are not what they used to be. The shifts in Turkish foreign policy emanate from three sources: the altered policy environment after the end of the Cold War, the ideological proclivities of the AKParty government, and the rhetoric that has characterized the pronouncements of Turkey’s leadership. Policy divergences exist between Turkey and its allies, but there are ample grounds to judge that it is alive, and there is also ample space for improvement.

* İlter Turan is an emeritus professor of political science at Istanbul’s Bilgi University, where he also served as president between 1998-2001. His previous employment included professorships at Koç University (1993-1998) and Istanbul University (1964-1993), where he also served as the chair of the International Relations.

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