Increasing Realism in Turkish Foreign Policy during Post-Davutoglu Era

Abstract

This article compares Turkish foreign policy in the post-Davutoglu era with the previous period and analyzes the changes and continuities in these two periods. In the first years of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) period, the Davutoglu era, Turkish foreign policy featured soft power and cooperation-based characteristics.While maintaining its proactive and multi-dimensional aspects, there were three crucial changes in Turkish foreign policy in the post-Davutoglu era. First, the elimination of the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO) network from the state institutions and organizations after the July 15 coup attempt contributed to the effective functioning of the state, more autonomous foreign policy, and successful military operations. Second, Turkiye adopted a new security concept aiming to eradicate the sources of terrorism both within and outside its borders and began to use more hard power. Third, Turkiye increased its capabilities in crisis management in its relations with great powers and managed its autonomous foreign policy. These three changes in the post-Davutoglu era led to increasing realism, autonomous foreign policy, and the rise of deterrence and the sphere of regional influence.