Dr. Fidan is undersecretary of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization.
Observers of Turkish foreign policy agree that it has entered a new era of activism over the last decade. In line with its new perception of its role in the world, Turkey has increasingly asserted itself as a rising actor that is determined to make a unique contribution to regional and global affairs. In the process, Turkish foreign policy has been transformed, not only in its content, but also in the instruments and mechanisms for formulating and conducting a proactive foreign-policy agenda. Most attention has been focused on the various regions and issue areas in which Turkey's activism has been demonstrated, and less on Turkey's major restructuring of the institutional architecture to support its new regional and global agenda. Increasingly, Turkish foreign policy has gained a liberal character, in both its formulation and execution, as various actors have become influential in the policy-making processes and a wide array of new liberal instruments has been added to the toolkit of Turkish diplomats.
A LIBERAL TURN
In many ways, the transformation of Turkey's foreign-policy practices reflects the effect of a more liberal understanding of international relations. A cursory look at the various terms used to summarize the principles of Turkish foreign policy makes this point clear: multidimensional diplomacy, cooperation, zero problems with neighbors, visa liberalization, win-win strategies, limitless cooperation, conflict resolution, mediation, defending democratic ideals and demanding a just international order, among other things.
For instance, let us take the example of Turkey's approach to conflict resolution.It rejects coercive instruments and relies heavily on diplomacy, engagement and dialogue with parties to conflicts. While avoiding taking sides in these conflicts, Ankara argues for the inclusion of major stakeholders in political processes.Prioritizing multilateralism over unilateralism, it seeks to address regional crises with broad-based participation. Likewise, Turkey has been promoting closer economic integration in the neighboring regions and beyond in an effort to deepen interdependence. This reflects very well the liberal functionalist approach to international cooperation, with its emphasis on institutionalization.
Moreover, Turkey's recent activism has also exhibited elements of the liberal-internationalist tradition that highlights the role of justice. Turkish leaders have vocally criticized existing international economic and political orders, arguing that the institutions of global governance need to be redesigned in an inclusive manner so that a new system based on justice and equality can be erected. In recent years, Turkey has also moved further in the direction of defending the principles of democracy and human rights, especially in the context of the political transformation in the Middle East and North Africa.
Turkey's pursuit of these revolutionary initiatives in its region and internationally has been driven to a large extent by the growing number of actors that are now offering their unique input into policy-making processes.Various nongovernmental actors that represent Turkey's flourishing civil society, including such diverse institutions as economic interest groups and humanitarian-aid organizations, have advocated for a proactive foreign policy and as such precipitated Turkey's new worldwide openings. Now, Turkish foreign-policy makers have to respond to a wider array of demands as they conduct the country's international relations. This diversification, moreover, suggests that they also have a larger set of instruments to draw on as they launch new policies to advance the country's regional and global agenda.Indeed, Turkey's soft power now comprises, among others things, cultural diplomacy, development assistance and mediation services.
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