Historiography and Main Scientific Views on the Problem of Turkey’s Foreign Policy in the Balkans in the Era of the Justice and Development Party (2002–2020)

Abstract

The article analyzes the domestic and foreign historiography of Turkey’s foreign policy in the Balkans during the era of the Justice and Development Party (2002–2020). As the main classification of historiography, the geographical criterion is chosen, Ukrainian, Turkish, Balkan, European and American works are analyzed.

The article emphasizes that in Ukraine during the period of its independence, the foreign policy of Turkey at the current stage is actively studied (first of all, the fundamental principles of Ankara’s new foreign policy strategy, Turkey’s European integration intentions, its role in the Black Sea, Middle Eastern regions, and North Africa, Turkish-Greek, Turkish-Ukrainian, Turkish-American relations, etc.). However, the Balkan direction remains understudied.

The main problems that were the subject of consideration by scientists from different countries are highlighted: the effectiveness of Ankara’s policy in the Balkans, its evolution, the legality of using the term “neo-Ottomanism” in relation to the new stage of Turkey’s foreign policy (since 2002), Turkey’s place among other countries (Russia, China , EU countries) for influence in the region, socio-cultural parallels between the Balkans and Turkey, etc. The national distinctiveness of scientific and journalistic discourse in various countries is characterized. An attempt is made to explain the presence of pluralism in the interpretation of Turkey’s foreign policy in the Balkan region through the prism of the freedom of democracy in certain countries.

At the end, it is concluded that today the historiography of the topic is the most developed in Turkey and the Balkans. European and American historiography does not focus too much on the Balkan direction of Turkish foreign policy, while the domestic one mentions it casually.