Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 26 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Turkish Opportunities

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   1 comment
Message William deB. Mills
Become a Fan
  (1 fan)

Turkey is emerging onto the regional stage as an independent actor as it simultaneously begins to face up to its Muslim roots and attempts to strengthen democracy at home -- a tall but commendable order and perhaps a set of goals that can only be achieved in unison. Domestically, Turkey faces the sensitive challenges of recognizing Muslim roots without frightening modernizing sectors of the society concerned about civil rights, of strengthening traditionally weak civilian control over a traditionally uncontrollable and dictatorial military, and of integrating the Kurds politically while freeing them culturally.

Difficult as these reforms may be, it is hard to see how Ankara can meet the international challenge of replacing client status toward the U.S. with genuine foreign policy independence unless it can unite Turkish society. It is hard to see how Ankara can make the case that it deserves to have its new foreign policy of friendship toward all taken seriously unless it practices an analogous domestic policy of political inclusion of, and cultural freedom for, all social groups.

If these are inspiring times for Turks, Ankara's new policy represents an historic opportunity for the U.S. to promote a moderate Mideast middle to serve as a buffer between the violence-prone forces currently setting the Mideast political agenda. The political coin currently carries questions on each side:

1.) Can Ankara explain its new foreign policy in a way that alleviates Washington tendencies to interpret any independent thinking as a threat?

2.) Can Washington find the maturity and vision to help Ankara in its very ambitious effort to find positive-sum solutions to Mideast conflicts?

Washington has demonstrated its inability to bring stability to the Mideast, and democracy can hardly be imposed from outside, but Washington might be able greatly to facilitate a home-grown process of cultivating both stability and democracy. With its roots in both Muslim and Western traditions, Turkey is well placed to be the catalyst of such a change.

The Current Mideast

The Mideast today is split by political fault lines separating the U.S. from Iran, Israelis from Palestinians, Israelis from those who support Palestinians, and the West from jihadis. All these fault lines are characterized by the reliance by both sides on force as the primary means of resolving conflict. Nowhere is there a force counseling understanding, compromise, or -- more important -- the search for a positive-sum solution.

Some Mideast disputes will simply require hard compromises. In the Levant, for example, sufficient water simply does not exist, so both Israelis and Palestinians will have to accept the need to share what little there is and use less than they would like. Water, then, will require a compromise.

Other Mideast disputes, in contrast, are amenable to positive-sum solutions that hold the potential of providing real security benefits from diminishing tensions to both sides. The Iranian-Israeli nuclear dispute, for example, could be muted to mutual benefit through the incremental implementation of common standards for nuclear transparency and the regulation of nuclear arms.

As long as the political environment is bifurcated into two hostile, emotional, fearful camps with no party in the center counseling calm analysis of options, solutions are difficult to see. Ankara today is offering a way around this impasse. Those parties interested in solutions, rather than endless chaos, should jump at the chance. Those parties who indeed favor the chaos will increasingly find themselves on the defensive if Ankara finds a way to implement its optimistic rhetoric.

Where Ankara's Initiative Might Lead

Iran. Ankara has already demonstrated how it might contribute to resolving the U.S.-Iranian nuclear dispute with its intervention into the argument over medical-grade uranium refined by Iran. In essence, Ankara launched an international move toward compromise (pulling in Brasilia) that might have developed momentum if supported by Washington. It also devised a minimal compromise of minimal technical importance, but that might have started a more significant long-term trend if supported by Washington.

Lebanon. Ankara has already stated its intention of getting involved in protecting Lebanon. The idea of Turkish peacekeeping forces along the Lebanese-Israeli border is one whose time has come.

Palestine. How an independent Palestine would protect itself from Israeli aggression is the invisible elephant in the room of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Israeli media have reported interest by Erdogan in playing a peace-making role. One approach might be guarding the border; another might be Turkish takeover of Gaza to free Gazans from Israel's collective punishment regime.

The wide range of options for Turkish intervention in long-standing disputes suggests that, beyond simply moderating one dispute or another, the possibility exists that significant momentum could be built toward the creation of a new Mideast culture of conflict resolution through positive-sum rather than the current zero-sum procedures.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

William DeB. Mills Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

I am an American political scientist specializing in the future of the global political system. I recently published "Mideast Peace or Fascism," "Palestine and Global Security," "Hammering Islamic Radicals," "Smarter Iran Policy Begins With a New (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Wanted: An American People's Party

Is Israel Plotting...or Stumbling toward...Mideast War?

Positive-Sum Mideast Strategy

Turkish Opportunities

Iran's Opportunity

TIME FOR A CHANGE, WASHINGTON: 'All Options' on the Road to Palestinian-Israeli Peace

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend