MIREES - Master of Arts in
Interdisciplinary Research and Studies on Eastern Europe

Turkey's Political Dynamics and Foreign Policies: An Unorthodox Perspective

Ali Fuat Borovalı

On 19 March 2012, Ali Fuat Borovalı, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (Department of International Relations, Doğuş University, İstanbul) delivered an open lecture at the Faculty of Political Science "Roberto Ruffilli" in Forlì. The lecture, entitled "Turkey's Political Dynamics and Foreign Policies: An Unorthodox Perspective", was held in the framework of the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Research and Studies on Eastern Europe (MIREES).

Drawing on Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" paradigm, Professor Borovalı presented the historical evolution of Turkey's identity dilemma. Defining Turkey as a country torn between the Western and Islamic civilizations, the speaker analyzed in detail Turkey's cultural, political and economic cleavages. Besides the kemalist secularism versus islamism cleavage, special attention was devoted to differences in economic development, with eastern Turkey being underdeveloped in comparison to the country's west (İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir). Kurdish, Armenian and other minorities' situation were analyzed in a historical perspective.

A lively discussion ensued, giving the audience an opportunity to discuss Turkey's foreign policy, domestic politics, economy, history and culture.

Leonas Tolvaišis, Academic Tutor
Interdisciplinary Master's in East European Research and Studies
PhD candidate at Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania