Country Profile: Turkey

Country Profile: Turkey By Jason Russell

Backgrounder in Geography • Turkey is located on the Anatolian Peninsula • The political capital of Turkey is Ankara • The largest city & cultural hub is Istanbul • It’s the gateway between Europe & the Middle East & Central Asia, bordering Greece & Bulgaria in Europe & Iran, Iraq Syria in the MidEast and Armenia/ Azerbaijan in Central Asia

Geography Cont’d • What is the significance of Turkey’s geography? • Politically and culturally thrown • Economically significant • Geostrategic importance

Ancient History • Turkey features some of the first Neolithic settlements in the world (app. 11000-yo) • Troy, one of the world’s oldest cities, was founded between 1200 & 1300 BC. • Early influence on Indo-European language

Empires • The Hittite Empire (Assyrians) (1950-600 BC) • Greeks founded Byzantium around 1200 BC • Phyrgians & their successor states • Persians, Alexander the Great (app. 334 BC) • In 324 BC, Contantine I names Byzantium the capital of the New Roman Empire (Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire)

Empires Cont’d • 10th century Seljuk Empire • Established around 950 BC by Beg Seljuq

The Seljuk Empire • Alp Arslan, grandson of Seljuq, added Armenia and Georgia to the Empire, putting him into direct contact w the Byzantine Empire • The Byzantine Empire’s military is in disarray – Constantine’s IX & X are noobz • Romanos IV sees the fall of Armenia & Georgia and attempts to halt the bleeding

The Battle of Manzikert (1071 BC) • Romanos does everything wrong • Seljuk hit & run tactics • PMC’s • Bad intel • Splits the force • Doukas allegiances & the rear guard

The Captivity of Romanos • Alp Arslan: "What would you do if I were brought before you as a prisoner?" • Romanos: "Perhaps I'd kill you, or exhibit you in the streets of Constantinople." • Alp Arslan: "My punishment is far heavier. I forgive you, and set you free.“ • This act begins the fall of the Byzantine Empire & the rule of the Ottoman Turks

The Ottoman Empire • 1243 – Defeated by the Mongols • 1299 – Osman I declares independence & starts fronting on the Byzantines • 1453 – Mehmed II conquers the Byzantine Empire by taking Constantinople

Ottoman Empire Cont’d • The Ottoman’s are one of history’s great empires, controlling chunks of the Med Sea and Central Europe • Suleiman the Magnificent (a sick name) – 16th century sultan

WWI & The Armenian Genocide • The Ottoman Empire was a Central Power • Armenian Genocide (1915-1917) • 600k to 1.5 million dead • Religious roots – Armenians were Christians • Geostrategic application (Russia & rebellion) • "The annihilation of the Armenian nation in Asia Minor must revolt all human feelings...The way the Armenian problem was solved was hair-raising. I can still see in front of me Talaat’s cynical expression, when he emphasized that the Armenian question was solved." • Defeated by the Allies in 1919

The Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the founding of Turkey • Divided into 40 modern countries in Europe, Africa, & Asia • Turkish War of Independence (1919–1922) • Foundation of Republic of Turkey (1923) • See ya Sultan

The Roots of Modern Turkey • Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk or “Father Turk”) • Established radical reforms for secularism • Barely involved in WWII (ceremonial support for Allies) • Charter member of United Nations • Russian pressure for military presence in Turkey prompted American military & economic support • Joined NATO in 1952

Cyprus • Historically, Greek (dating back to the Hellenistic period) • 1573-1919 – Ottoman’s administered the island & Turks populated large areas of the North • 1919 – Britain annexes Cyprus; opposes self-determination • 1954 – Greece, post-revolution, is no longer allied w Britain and pushes for Cyprus to join Greece; Turkey declares its intent to push for control of Cyprus due to links to Ottomans. • 1960 – Republic of Cyprus • In between, everybody kills everyone else

Turkey Today • Turkey is a parliamentary republic. • They’re a large economy on the outside looking in, surrounded by OPEC & EU states. • Secular state, culturally Muslim • Their prime minister is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. • He represents the economically conservative AKP (or Justice & Development) party. • Their primary issue is economic liberalization w an eye toward accession to the EU.

Turkish Foreign Relations • The big deal in Turkey is EU accession. Their economy is export-driven and accession will afford them rights & protections that help exporting. • They’re an important U.S. strategic & military ally – 2nd biggest standing army in NATO (behind us), participate in PKO’s, the 1st Gulf War, buy a lot of U.S. arms • Critical oil route to Balkans & Caucasus

U.S. Military Presence in Turkey • Incirlik Air Base – App. 1,500 U.S. airmen in the 39th Air Base Wing • NATO nuclear sharing – 90 nuclear weapons, 40 under Turkish command • B61 bombs are aircraft delivered, variable yield bombs. • Incirlik was a launching point for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, & relief for the South Asian earthquake. • In 2007, Chuck Norris visited incirlik on his way back to the United States after visiting Iraq.

Why Turkey? • Strategic significance • Proximity to Iraq (70% of supplies & fuel) & Afghanistan (only an 8 hour flight – 50% shorter than other routes) • Influence – Iran, Russia, & potentially China are competitors • NATO/EU • Moderating radical Islam

Why U.S.? • Economic & military support • Trade • Aid • Arms sales • Defense from terrorism (The PKK) • Political backing

What’s the Problem? • Economic reform • U.S. influence in a primarily Muslim country is touchy. • Motivates & provides a visible symbol for terrorist opposition. • The Armenian genocide question

The PKK • The Kurdistan Workers Party • Many Kurdish rebels have been living in Northern Iraq, but are repatriating to Turkey • Left-wing opposition to conservative ruling party • This month, PKK scrapped their ceasefire w the gov’t • Monday, attacked a bus in Istanbul (atypical, they usually fight in the rural Southeast, not the European Northwest) • Both the military and the PKK are aggressive

PKK Cont’d • Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) was outlawed and resigned from the parliament. • Conciliatory moves by Erdogan have been criticized • Impacts Israeli rel’s

Shifting Toward the East • Erdogan is losing faith in the West • The EU is dragging its feet • The U.S. is ineffective in Afghanistan • Israeli violence in Gaza has resulted in collateral damage to Turkish groups tied to the prime minister • Won’t label Hamas a terrorist organization • The results? • Cozying up to Iran • Disinterested in NATO • Split w the military • Opposition to UN sanctions on Iran

Rising Nationalism • A June 2007 Pew Research Center survey found that only 9% of Turkish citizens have a favorable opinion of the United States, the lowest percentage out of all 47 countries surveyed • Political parties have hardened their ideological slants • Iraq – U.S. mishandling = blame for PKK

Turkey & The Topic • Affs • TNW’s • Defense Cooperative Agreement (arms sales) • Incirlik Transport • Troop Pull-out • Summary: Not the best area, but potential for tricky affs

Turkey Disads • Turkish Politics • PKK Appeasement • Turkey Relations • Turkish Economy • Russia & Iran • What other affs impact Turkey? • Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan • Turkey Relations Good could be an impact to all three

Turkey CP’s • Conditions • On PKK ceasefire • On Iran sanctions backing • On Hamas labeling • On Israeli relations • On economic reform • On oil rights • Consult • Just ask em… • Consult w NATO • Consult w the EU

Turkey & T • Is removing TNW’s topical? • Is not requesting support flights topical? • Is canceling arms sales topical?

Turkey K’s • Islamophobia • Orientalism • K’s of hegemony/soft power • The Bomb

Conclusion • Turkey is in a complicated position in the topic • It’s relationship w the U.S. & the rest of the West is in flux • It’s quite literally at the heart of the topic • The obvious aff’s are only ok, but the role of Turkey in all of the aff’s is strong

Country Profile: Turkey