Turkish Foreign Policy in an Age of Uncertainty

Since the end of the Cold War, and perhaps even the early days of the Turkish Republic, there have rarely been so many open questions regarding Turkey's role in the world. What is Turkey's place in Eu-rope, NATO, and the E.U.? What risks and opportunities exist for Turkey in a conflict-ridden Middle East? How will Ankara deal with a changing Russia, an unstable Caucasus, and Central Asia? Can Turkey's competitive relationship with Greece be moderated against a back-ground of successive Balkan crises? Meanwhile, Turkey faces daunting political, economic, and social pressures at home, which in turn affect the country's foreign and security policies. The authors, longtime observers of Turkey and the Mediterranean region, describe the challenges and opportunities facing Turkey in the international environment during a time of extraordinary flux. Special emphasis is given to the strategic and security issues facing Turkey, including a number of new issues posed by the terrorist attacks of September 2001 and the subsequent international response. The authors conclude by offering some prognostications regarding the country's future and their implications on Turkey's western partners.