Foucault's Pendulum: Turkey in Central Asia and the Caucasus1

Abstract

The emergence of eight independent states in Central Asia and the Caucasus after the end of the Cold War presented challenges to Turkey, while enlarging its role in the world. The collapse of the Soviet Union removed the century‐old Soviet/Russian threat to Turkey's security, while at the same time created a potentially risky power vacuum on Turkey's borders and threats to regional security. In this environment, Turkey is considered an important stabilizing actor because of its strong historical, cultural, ethnic and linguistic bonds with the newly independent states. While Turkey had traditionally avoided involvement in regional politics, it has since been unavoidably drawn into the volatile new politics of the region. After ten years, despite various setbacks, Turkey has become one of the important players in a region where it previously had only a marginal influence and no active involvement. Although economic and political conditions in the region are unlikely to stabilize for some years, it is without doubt that Turkish policymakers will continue with their efforts to create new networks of interdependency between Ankara and the regional capitals.

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