Turkey’s Inescapable Dilemma: America or Europe?

The end of the Cold War has almost changed the picture of international system. Not only new actors have entered into the international game but the hierarchy of the system has also been influenced deeply. The end of the Cold War is therefore a systemic change that altered the international distribution of power, the hierarchy of prestige, and the rules and the rights embodied in the system.1 Though it has made system-wide effects, for several countries the end of the Cold War has especially given path to the extraordinary developments for their foreign policies. Many small and medium-sized countries have faced important difficulties in adapting their foreign policies to the new developments in world politics. No doubt Turkey as a medium-size regional state is in this camp. Since late 80s, the Turkish foreign policy can be said to be in flux, or a transition, as some might prefer. The emergence of new independent Turkic states in Central Asia, the rise of Americanism in the Middle East, important developments in Caucasia and Balkans, the ongoing EU membership process have captured the agenda of Turkish foreign policy. Turkey has faced several problems vis-à-vis such a huge agenda.