Eurasianism and contemporary foreign policy in Turkey

Abstract

Describing particular Turkish foreign policy decisions or certain actors within Turkey's political environment as Eurasianist is a trend observable in journals, newspapers and speeches. There are many speculations about the power of Eurasianists within the Turkish state apparatus and especially the Turkish Anned Forces. After officers and politicians who are allegedly linked to Eurasianist thought have been purged during the Ergenekon, Sledgehanm1er and Izmir spy cases, many of them returned to their posts after the abortive coup of July 15, 2016. Turkish Eurasianists and their ties to Russian Eurasianists and far-right politicians, such as Alexander Dugin and Vladimir Zhirinovsky are criticized in one way or another in Turkish media and academic works. What is astounding here is the fact that the political background of some Turkish Eurasianists is communism or left-wing nationalism with references to the nationalism of the founding father of modem Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atattirk. Therefore the definition of Eurasianism in Turkey and its theoretical background are highly discussed and contemporary, crucial topics in Turkish politics. The question ofwhat actually lies behind the tenn of"Turkish Eurasianism" is the aim of this thesis. Conducting interviews with several proponents and insiders will give valuable insight into the aims, approaches and underlying theories of Turkish Eurasianists. For this reason exploratory, qualitative interviews will be conducted with elites to focus on foreign policy approaches between 2008 and 2018 and the hist01ical background of particular actors within the Eurasianist environJnent. Providing both a contemporary analysis of foreign policy and the historical relations will lead to a better understanding of Turkish foreign policy.