Prime Minister Erdogan, courtesy RFE/RL
A few weeks ago, the Turkish government canceled the joint military exercise Anatolia Eagle because Turkey would not invite Israel, while the US refused to participate in an exercise that traditionally included the Israelis. While a departure from the norm, the diplomatic fracas between Turkey, Israel and the US is just the latest development in the steady deterioration of the US and Israeli relations with Turkey since the successive 2002 and 2007 victories of the AK (Justice and Development) Party in general elections.
Turkey, with its heritage in Ataturk’s secular-nationalist vision and close ties to Western powers and ideas, has been an outlier in the Middle East. It was the second Muslim country (after Iran) to recognize Israel, and remains a NATO member. Turkey cooperated with Israel in military modernization and training, and they shared common interest in opposing Iran and Syria during the 1990s. Since 2002, though, the moderate Islamist AKP has presided over a shift in Turkish foreign policy, one heavy-handed Western actions in Turkey’s near abroad exacerbated. Turkey refused to include its forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and its 2007-2008 intervention against the PKK put the US on edge.
Israeli tensions with Hamas and especially Operation Cast Lead in Gaza severely strained Turkish relations. Turkish PM Erdogan’s spat with Peres at Davos reflected of a public mood in Turkey that earlier turned against the West and Israel. The Turkish people poll strongly against America and Mein Kampf was a 2005 best-seller. A Slate piece looks into the popularity of anti-Americanism in Turkey, showcasing a blockbuster Turkish film vehemently criticizing the American invasion of Iraq and featuring Gary Busey as an organ-stealing Jewish doctor; a best-selling 2004 novel ends with Turkey hitting DC with a nuclear bomb.
Turkish national and elite interests moderate popular sentiment to some extent – but this all should trouble the US. Firstly, Turkey has always held strategic importance as a geopolitical and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia. It is a NATO member and maintains strong ties to Europe, and whether one is dealing with Russian energy politics, containing Iranian influence, or maintaining leverage in the Middle East, Turkey is an important partner. But Turkey is also held as a model of Muslim democracy – and this same democracy elected a party which will voice the preferences of its people. Democracy and American strategic interests in the Middle East will only coexist when America, and its ally Israel, pursue ends amenable to the populations who elect those democratic governments to begin with.
But can democracy co-exist with anti-Semitic oppression?
Well of course it can, but democracy turned oppressive no longer seems a worthwhile goal for cooperation.
The average man on the street, regardless of nationality, does not choose his own ideology.
Individual Turks did not individually elect the fascist imperative in the same way that individual Americans didn’t all arrive at the concept of inalienable rights by themselves. Citizens of the USSR became devout communists because governments made it expedient to be a devout communist.
Governments always have and always will determine the values of the majority of individuals. Cognitive dissidence is what makes people think otherwise.
Either Turkey lacks the scope and strength to appropriately steer its people’s ideology, or it is willingly steering them toward an anti-western, anti-Israel perspective. Which is more likely?
The real problem is that immigrating Turks are bringing this crap with them, as if there isn’t enough latent antisemitism already.
If this is Europe’s future generation, get ready for WWIII.
Hi Danny!!! GREAT title! i too thought about turkey turning over a fire and getting nice and roasted! i cant wait for thanksgiving (maybe in boston…?)
love youuuuuu but LOVE your titles way more (sorry)
you know you love me. xoxo
v
p.s. hi seth and will!