Turkey’s Iran policy between geostrategic pragmatism and alliance management : a case of dual strategic hedging

Pieper, MA

Abstract

This chapter analyzes Turkish foreign policy towards the Iranian nuclear program. The Turkish shuttle diplomacy with Tehran in 2009-2010 to negotiate a deal over Iran’s controversial nuclear program was an illustration of a remarkable foreign policy activism that served at least two purposes strategically. Assuring the U.S. of Turkey’s commitment to international diplomacy that were in line with Western security and non-proliferation priorities, Turkey’s mediation conveyed a prioritization of political dialogue and a rejection of sanctions as a counterproductive means of pressuring the Iranians at the same time. This chapter argues that Turkey’s mediation was a case of dual strategic hedging in that it managed to walk the line between alliance management and commitment to Western non-proliferation concerns (and an exercise of Great Power diplomacy and demonstration of Turkey’s foreign policy self-perception and portrayal), and safeguarding of Iranian interests and attempt to avert the imposition of sanctions at the same time. Doing so, a refined version of the concept of ‘strategic hedging’ in International Relations will be introduced to make sense of the foreign policy of states in a process of shifting centers of gravity in a multipolar world.

Citation

Pieper, M. (2015). Turkey’s Iran policy between geostrategic pragmatism and alliance management : a case of dual strategic hedging. In K. Ustun, K. B. Kanat, & A. S. Tekelioglu (Eds.), Politics and Foreign Policy in Turkey: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (107-130). Washington, D.C.: The SETA Foundation

• Acceptance Date: May 10, 2014
• Publication Date: Apr 28, 2015
• Deposit Date: Mar 7, 2016
• Pages: 107-130
• Book Title: Politics and Foreign Policy in Turkey: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
• ISBN: 9786054023543
• Publisher URL: http://setadc.org/politics-and-foreign-policy-in-turkey-historical-and-contemporary-perspectives/