LEADERSHIP CHANGE: ÖZAL LEADERSHIP an‎d RESTRUCTURING IN TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY

The leadership group plays the most important role in foreign policy making in Third World countries. Self-perception, state identity and interests of the leadership group determine the foreign policy orientation and the direction of the state behavior that made based on gathered information and available resources and alternatives. Each leadership group redefines its “national interests,” its “enemies and friends” and its general objectives and expectations. National leaders, some of which are eager to take risks and implement certain policies that bring change, are the main players. While active leaders follow proactive foreign policy, passive leaders pursue reactive foreign policy. The orientation of the leadership group determines the alliance pattern of the state, its foreign economic relations and its ethnic policy.