CoG: Turkey - Part 1 (#9 - Aug 24, 2020)

In 2002, Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a sweeping victory in the country’s general elections, dominating and shaping domestic and foreign policies of Turkey for nearly two decades to this date. Outwardly, under Erdogan’s and AKP’s leadership, Turkey has transformed from a country with a stated and acclaimed foreign policy seeking “zero problems with neighbors” to one that is actively engaged in economic, political and military rivalry with its Middle East and other regional neighbors, as well as balancing global players. Armenia is deeply affected by the quality of relationships that Turkey conducts with each of its neighbors.

In this first part of our Conversation on Groong about Turkey, we explore Continuity and Change in Political Culture and Foreign Policy in Turkey covering transition from Kemalism to Islamism, as defined by the AKP. We look at how recent events fit together within the framework of continuous, yet changing, state policies. We also discuss Turkey’s foreign policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.

Topics:

• Turkey’s Transformation in Historical Perspective
  How has Turkey transformed in the last several decades moving from Kemalism to Islamism? 
• Change and Continuity of Turkish Political Culture
  How has the political culture in Turkey changed in the past two decades? How have those changes influenced Turkey’s policies domestically (minorities, political parties, etc) as well as in its Foreign policy?
• Turkey’s Foreign Policy
  Turkey has been pursuing a more active foreign policy. What are the driving forces behind this foreign policy? How can we explain Turkish expanding influence from its immediate neighborhood to the larger mediterranean?

Host: Asbed Kotchikian

Panelists:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Ara Sanjian
• Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Produced by:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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