SOFT BALANCING IN TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY: THE CASE OF THE 2003 IRAQ WAR

Authors : Murat YEŞİLTAŞ

Pages : 25-51

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Publication Date : 2009-06-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This paper argues that soft balancing theory provides the best framework to understand Turkey’s foreign policy towards the US in terms of its unilateral policy on the issue of Iraq in the post 9/11 era. To put the matter bluntly, Turkish foreign policy regarding the Iraqi crisis can be examined through the lens of soft balancing - in order to prevent the war and minimize its negative effect on the region as well as its own interests. I argue that Turkey’s soft balancing policy is a strategic effort in overall structural terms to increase influence vis-a-vis the US via non-military means. In this respect, this article is divided into two sections. The first section will give an overall explanation about the theory of soft balancing. The second section will examine Turkish foreign policy regarding the Iraqi crisis as soft balancing against the US before the 2003 Iraq war. This being said, the second section will treat Turkish foreign policy as three soft balancing strategies which are composed of diplomatic soft balancing at the regional level, institutional soft balancing at the international level, and territorial denial as an instrument of soft balancing at the national level
Keywords : Soft Balancing, Hard Balancing, Unipolarity, Turkey, United States, Iraq War, Middle East