Event Summary
Dr. Ibrahim Kalin, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister of Turkey, discussed the various factors that shape current Turkish foreign policy. He asserted that, although AKP policy is often seen as being driven by ideological factors, such as Islamism and New Ottomanism, the primary determinants of Turkish foreign policy actually stem from more practical factors, such as Turkey’s economic demands, its historical ties to its neighbors and its sensitive geopolitical position. Dr. Kalin placed particular emphasis on this last factor, asserting that Turkey’s geographic location at a global crossroads renders the nation susceptible to a whole host of energy and security issues that pertain to the Middle East, the Caucusus, the Balkans and the Central Asian regions. As such, Turkey has no choice but to play an active role in its region. The necessity of this role has significantly shaped Turkey’s foreign policy and its interactions with neighbors.
Furthermore, Dr. Kalin emphasized the fact that maintaining regional security is necessary for Turkey’s own economic prosperity. As Dr. Kalin pointed out, Turkey has an extremely young and dynamic population. Thus, Turkish society demands a wealth of career and educational opportunities. According to Dr. Kalin, this demand has significantly shaped the AKP’s efforts to increase cooperation with its neighbors and, thereby, promote the kind of regional security and prosperity that will continue to bring foreign investment to Turkey’s doorstep. Finally, Dr. Kalin asserted that Turkey’s legacy as descendent of the Ottoman Empire, and its shared history with nations in the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, have guided the AKP’s foreign relations strategies as well.
Dr. Kalin then briefly addressed the claim that Turkey is turning towards the East in regard to its foreign policy. He affirmed that, while the Middle East is a source of hot button issues for Turkey, it would be erroneous to assume that Turkish foreign policy is only concerned with this particular region. In fact, Dr. Kalin stated, Turkish foreign policy both addresses and is shaped by a large range of issues, such as Turkey’s dependence on Russia and Georgia for energy imports. Dr. Kalin concluded by asserting that all of these elements, including identity issues, the realities of the new world order after the Cold War, and political and economic necessities compel Turkey to maintain the kind of activism and expansionism that have colored Turkish foreign policy in recent years, and will continue to do so for years to come.
Bio:
Dr. Ibrahim Kalin is the chief advisor to the Prime Minister of Turkey, a faculty member at the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, and the founding-director of the SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research based in Ankara, Turkey.
Dr. Kalin received his B.A. in history from the University of Istanbul and his Ph.D. from George Washington University in Washington DC. As a broadly trained scholar of Islamic studies and comparative philosophy, he teaches courses on Islamic thought, history and culture; Islam-West relations; and Turkey. Dr. Kalın has published extensively on these subjects and has also contributed to several encyclopedias, including MacMillan Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2nd Edition, Encyclopedia of Islamic Philosophy, and the Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World.