Ever since Turkey’s strong reaction to the flotilla incident and its “no” vote on Iran sanctions at the United Nations Security Council, there has been a sharp rise in the tone and frequency of American voices arguing that Turkey is no longer part of the West. An Islamized Turkey turning its back to the West is now conventional wisdom in American circles. …
Perception is reality. There is not much point in blaming the West for misunderstanding Turkey when so many influential Westerners come to the same conclusion that something is off-balance in Turkey. The easy way out is to agree to disagree and move on. The more daunting challenge is to ask, “What went wrong and why do they see us like that?” The sad part of what is being said about Turkey is that it could easily be avoided with a more balanced style and narrative coming from Turkey’s leadership. It only takes a few words to change perceptions. Yes, Turkey is right to be angry with Israel. But it would be in a much stronger position if the style of its criticism showed more balance. Words and rhetoric matter. …
It [is] important to take what [Thomas] Friedman has to say about Turkey seriously. But thankfully, there are other voices to balance some of his points. Philip Stephens from the Financial Times is one of them. … Stephens clearly understands what I mean when I refer to “Turkish Gaullism.” A sense of grandeur has come to Turkey. It is not Islam, but nationalism and frustration with Western hegemony that fuels such Turkish assertiveness and self-confidence. The West can try to co-opt rather than confront Ankara’s new strategic credibility in the Middle East. Yet, as long as the blood feud with Israel remains unresolved, it may prove almost impossible to co-opt Turkish Gaullism. Access the full article>>
