Erdogan’s Neo-Ottoman Foreign Policy

Key Highlights:

• Türkiye under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pursuing a foreign policy that blends Islamist ideology with geopolitical pragmatism.
• Ankara has supported Islamist groups in Syria, Egypt, Libya, and backed Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
• Erdogan’s government draws ideological roots from Ittihad-i Islam, the Ottoman-era concept of Muslim unity.
• Türkiye has increased its influence in West Asia, the Caucasus, and the Black Sea region, while retaining its NATO membership.
• Türkiye strategically supported Ukraine with drones, yet refrained from sanctioning Russia and bought Russian S-400 systems.
• Despite gains abroad, Türkiye faces domestic economic crises, including hyperinflation and currency depreciation.
• Erdogan’s centralisation of power and crackdown on dissent reflect growing authoritarianism under the new presidential system.

Detailed Insights:

• Neo-Ottoman Ideology: Erdogan’s foreign policy is influenced by the Ottoman-era doctrine of Ittihad-i Islam, aiming to revive Türkiye’s leadership in the Muslim world.
• Post-Arab Spring Shift: The 2011 Arab uprisings served as a catalyst for Ankara to support Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood, perceiving an opportunity to expand regional influence.
• Strategic Dualism: Türkiye maintains NATO alignment while simultaneously cultivating ties with Islamist regimes and non-Western powers like Russia.
• Syria and HTS: Türkiye’s backing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria illustrates its willingness to shield Islamist groups if it benefits regional leverage and border security.
• Economic Constraints: Domestic economic instability limits Türkiye’s global ambitions; inflation, unemployment, and a weakened lira undermine foreign policy sustainability.
• Authoritarian Trends: Erdogan has eroded democratic checks through constitutional changes and repression of opposition, potentially impacting Türkiye’s long-term global standing.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Neo-Ottomanism: A political ideology advocating for Türkiye’s revival of influence over former Ottoman territories through soft and hard power.
• Ittihad-i Islam: Concept of pan-Islamic unity used by Ottoman rulers as a geopolitical tool against Western imperialism.
• Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916): Secret Franco-British agreement dividing Ottoman lands post-WWI, symbolising imposed Western order in West Asia.
• Hyperinflation: Economic condition involving rapid and excessive price increases, eroding currency value and purchasing power.

Mains Mock Question:

Critically examine the contours of Türkiye’s ‘neo-Ottoman’ foreign policy under President Erdogan. How does this assertive foreign policy intersect with Türkiye’s domestic political and economic realities? (250 words)