Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia. By Ahmed Rashid. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2002. 281 pp. $24.00 (original) (raw)

Turkey’s Policies toward the South Caucasus and its Integration in the EU

Quaderni di Relazioni Internazionali, No 1/2006, 2006

The collapse of the USSR has been a mixed blessing for Turkey. While the century-old Soviet/Russian threat to Turkey’s security has disappeared, the vacuum created by this departure in the Eurasia has become the breeding ground on Turkey’s borders for potential risks and threats for regional security. While Turkey has traditionally avoided involvement in regional politics, it has been unavoidably drawn into the volatile new politics of the Caucasus. Its rivalry with Iran and the Russian Federation over influence in the new states of the Caucasus presented risks and difficult policy choices to Turkey. Mindful of these dangers, Turkey has attempted to play down the importance of these potentially threatening tendencies, sought closer relations with both Russia and Iran as well as with the Caucasian republics, emphasizing its moderate secular character together with liberal economy and democratic tradition. Its integration and accession to the EU will further create lines of influence in the region, as well as providing a direct access between the Union and the South Caucasus....

Turkey as a Regional Power and the Caucasus

As a regional power, Turkey is increasingly being faced with unwanted situations because of its geo-strategic gateway status both on the East-West and North-South directions, and the spillover effects of the instability emanating from its neighbors. Therefore, it is imperative for Turkey, regarded as a model country in the region, to develop certain solution oriented policies in order to resolve the surrounding instability. Otherwise, not only the regional power status of Turkey will be void, but also its spheres of influence will be lost to other regional and global power contenders.

Implications of Turkish-Azerbaijani Relations for Regional Security and Development

IAI Working Papers 13, Instituto Affari Internazionali, 2013

Turkey's actions in the South Caucasus face serious limitations as long as it has no direct influence over the dynamics of conflict settlement. Turkey has the potential to support transformation and reform within the societies of the South Caucasus through soft power. The current state of Turkey's relations with Armenia will keep on seriously curtailing Turkey's outreach in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan is a stakeholder in Turkish-Armenian relations and Turkey, because of its inability to proceed further with its bilateral agenda with Armenia, has become a stakeholder in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan's leverage on Turkey appears to be more and more influential. The importance of the notion of Turkishness in national politics is an important factor in assessing the strength of pro-Azeri feeling. The Kurdish problem is today a major political challenge. It is the most powerful dynamic underpinning the questioning and progressive redefinition of national identity.

Turkey and Turkic Nations: A Post-Cold War Analysis of Relations

Turkish Studies, Volume 14, Issue 2, 2013

Abstract: Turkish foreign policy has experienced massive alterations after the end of Cold War. This has been most evident in Turkey’s relations with Turkic nations in Central Asia and the Caucasus, all of which gained independence from the USSR. This article aims to provide a thorough analysis on this issue. First, the article explores the ethnicity concept and applies it to the relations between Turkey and Turkic nations. Then, it examines Turkey’s relations with other regional and international powers, namely Russia, the USA, and Iran, through the lenses of Central Asia and the Caucasia. Finally, the article questions the often monolithic view of Turkic nations in the eyes of the Turkish public and delves into the rich yet diverse bilateral relations between Turkey and each Turkic state. To this end, it analyzes Turkey’s political, economic, and cultural ties with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Carefully going over all of these subjects, the article intends to illustrate the multifaceted nature of Turkey’s relations with Turkic nations and the prospects and obstacles ahead.