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So, Turkey turns away. From America - and Europe at the same time.The reason is its dispute with Israel, the persistent pressure from Ankara on an Israeli apology for the bloody incident at the Gaza coast late May and the Turkish No to sanctions against Iran. Is Turkey lost for the West?
Here at the Bosporus one has the impression that nothing drifts away. The New is something different: The country is aware of the situation in which it is located since its foundation in 1923 - between Europe and the Middle East, Russia and North Africa.
Turkey does not close herself away from the environment, she has done so far as iron NATO ally of the West during the Cold War. She transforms from a bulwark to a new star of the region.
Behind this, many now recognize two ideologies:
Dreams of hegemony, Ottomanism - and temptations of religious stained policy - Islamism. Two common labels, but unfortunately the wrong one. What happened in Turkey, can be much better explained by the ideas that we know in the West well, because we have them invented. Capitalism and Democracy. Both have spread in Turkey dizzyingly fast, that now change her foreign policy.
So, if we take a look at balancesheets instead of catchwords like Koran and the Caliph, it becomes interesting. Turkey has been transformed from a closed command economy to a booming export nation. Where twenty years ago in Anatolia squeaked only donkey carts between fields, now the machines whir of medium-sized enterprises.
And exporting to all directions. Europe is the main market of the Turks, no one would want to turn away from it. In the coming are: the Black Sea countries, the Middle East, Africa. The new markets are changing the Turkish view of the world. And that is much larger than NATO. The single most important trading partner today - an economic reversal of alliances - Russia. From there comes natural gas and nuclear energy for the economy and living rooms of Turkey. In return cars, dishwashers, tomatoes and construction crews are sent to Russia. The governments of Russia and Turkey will meet several times a year, Russia's strongman Putin and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan combines a close friendship-fire.
71 percent of Turks welcome globalization
The name of the ruling party AKP is translated into: Party for Justice and Development. This means growth and prosperity for all. When this party has any ideology, then it is business. The G-20 country is growing rapidly, and the Turks will find this good: 71 percent welcome globalization.
What Turkey needs for its success is, above all, peace - and no war. Here lies the crucial difference with Turkey of the earlier years. Turkey led a bloody war against the Kurds in Turkey and the Kurds in neighboring countries.
Turkey marched into Iraq. Turkey threatened Syria with war and attacked by a hair Greece. At that time Germany delayed the delivery of tanks and guns to Ankara - correctly.
Today, war is no longer the preferred instruments of Turkish foreign policy. She preferably speaks, sends diplomats to avoid what hurt the region most in recent years: Iraq, Lebanon war, Gaza war.
A war for Iran's nuclear facilities would be a nightmare for Ankara. Unlike Iran, but also USA and ISrael, Ankara does not see the Middle East as a theater of power-projection, but as an exhibition for products. Relaxation is the first duty of a retailer.
Turks mediated in Iraq, Lebanon, by the end of 2008 between Israel and Syria. In the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, they try to prevent any escalation. Even sanctions that harm the Turkish economy. A new alliance? Hardly. Most Turks are against it. "Turkey and Iran are neighbors and competitors" in the region, says Suat Kiniklioğlu, Erdoğan adviser and chief of foreign affairs within the AKP.
It's all about trade and energy. "It would not surprise me, however, if our rivalry will soon be felt in other areas."
The Turks know: Conflicts in the Middle East benefit the Iranian regime. With peace, Turkey is in front.
Read the budgets, not the Koran!
But why Israel does not benefit from the new Turkish policy? The explanation:
Because Israel and Turkey are democracies, the only ones in the Middle East. This may sound paradoxical? In Israel and Turkey, domestic and foreign policy are intertwined. Friendship with dictatorships is often easier. Israel's last truly safe ally lies in Egypt. There, 80 million Egyptians condemn Israel. Does not matter - the President and the Intelligence Chief are loyal to Israel. That counts.
But In Turkey, there are many that count. The government, the opposition, the media, the people. Just as in Israel.
Now, how is this exactly between Erdoğan and Israel? In 2005 Erdogan met in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Both went along. Even during the first week of the Gaza war in late 2008, Erdogan was barely audible. Then, on 4th January 2009 the Felicity Party (Saadet) called for a demonstration. Saadet - these are the Islamists, the competition for the conservative-capitalist AKP from the Islamist right.
Almost a hundred thousand Turks visited the Saadet demonstration - in the pouring rain.
Now Erdoğan also began to denounce Israel. And he did not stop again. As in 2003, when Chancelor Gerhard Schröder was applauded on the marketplace of Goslar city, the masses now applauded Erdoğan when he railed against the war.
In the spring of 2009 Turkey was going to regional elections.
These are the hours of the polarizer. Erdoğan rides on the conflict between Israel-Palestine. One subject that he can raise at will, when it is of use to him. He knows how popular the Turks are with the Palestinians. The Suppressed enjoy sympathy, especially as most Turks see themselves as victims of sinister forces.
In this frame of mind the No to Iran sanctions in the Security Council fit Erdogan. Afterwards, Turkish diplomats argumented the "no" was "straight lines", after the U.S. had ignored the mediation of Turkey and Brazil regarding the Uranium swap deal.
This sounds more like straightening. The "No" has benefit Erdoğan's poll numbers, but the image of Turkey in the west was extremely hurt.
It is not clear how far the Prime Minister with the mixture of Populism and Politmachismo will go. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu seeks to dampen the emotions. Last week he met with the Israeli Industry Minister Ben-Eliezer in Brussels. The Israelian Industry Minister negotiated on behalf of Avidgor Lieberman. Even Netanyahu and Erdogan can not speak.
Solidarity with the Palestinians promised political gains
Is everything better when Erdoğan is gone? The nationalist opposition said it will send military convoys to support Aid convoys. Erdoğan did not.
In his term, Turkey has further democratized. The Kurds have gained rights, prosecutors lost their omnipotence. The large media company "Dogan" was brusquely crushed, but diversity in media landscape has increased. The number of NGOs has increased dramatically. The baleful influence of the military in politics has declined. Since the nineties Turkey has become capitalist and democratic, more similar to Europe.
If there just would not be this new Turkish Middle East foreign policy... But is it really that bad for Europe?
Imagine the Middle East before without Turkey: the Arab world weakened, Israel and Iran the only main competitors, the war in sight. With Turkey a necessary third player is on the field. Turkey is trading, it conveys, it embodies a democratic option for Muslims, it exports television shows, where women in short skirts sink in fife-minute kisses with her lover. It is a secular country with a faithful prime minister. The mixture is attractive in the Middle East. Erdoğan has replaced Hezbollah leader Nasrallah as long-time most popular politician in the Arab world.
But Is Turkey isolating herself elsewhere with this policy? The many magnificent summits at the Bosporus tell the opposite: Indians, Koreans, Brazilians, Indonesians, South Africans, Congolese, Kazakhs, Russians, Arabs, Iranians, Bosnians.
Istanbul is one of the ballet rooms of our chaotic century.
The hall door for the western dancer is wide open. Really happy they are when they can welcome Obama. Turkey does not turn off from the West. The difference is, now it dances also with others. Europe and America should not be offended and cancel the dance.
Die Türkei & der Westen: Lest die Bilanzen, nicht den Koran! ? Seite 2 | Politik | ZEIT ONLINE
