Turkey facing east

Islam, modernity and foreign policy

By (author) Ayla Gol

Publication date:

31 December 2013

Length of book:

224 pages

Publisher

Manchester University Press

Dimensions:

234x156mm

ISBN-13: 9780719090752

Turkey facing east is about the importance of Turkey’s relations with its Eastern neighbours – Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Soviet Union – during the emergence of the modern Turkish nation-state from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. The principal strength of this book is that it not only combines historical and theoretical arguments in order to provide a better understanding of the foreign relations of a predominantly Muslim country from a critical and interdisciplinary perspective, but it also applies the new approach to the analysis of Turkish foreign policy towards the South Caucasus between 1918 and 1921. Hence, it stands out with its original interdisciplinary approach to the Turkish transition and foreign policy-making that offers perspectives on the extant possibilities for the particular transitional states resulting from the Arab spring uprisings.

Introduction
1. Foreign policy and transitional states
2. The Turkish transition and alternative modernity
3. Modernity, nationalism and Islamic identity
4. Challenges of nationalist foreign policy
5. New rules engagement between Ankara and Moscow in the East
6. The Turkish question: Islamist, communist or nationalist?
7. The recognition of the modern Turkish state
Conclusion
Appendices
Bibliography
Index

'This is an impressive book that represents a genuinely innovative contribution to the field. Göl elaborates on a lesser-examined period of Turkish-Russian relations by offering a new theoretical perspective to studying foreign policy. Despite the complexity of the theoretical framework, the book is immensely readable. Thus it should appeal to a wide range of readers who are interested in foreign policy analysis, Turkish-Russian relations and Turkish studies. It would also serve as teaching material in graduate or undergraduate courses on the history of Turkish foreign policy.'
Sakir Dincsahin, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Political Studies Review, 1 May 2015

'The book’s in depth analysis of a transitional period in Turkish history offers a new historical account of the transformation of the Turkish state, highlighting the importance of Turkey’s Eastern-orientation. It is a useful addition for specialists working on the region as well as international politics.'
Anita Sengupta, Insight Turkey Vol 16 No 4, 11 May 2015