The Influence of Ethnic Factors on the Implementation of the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Turkey

Abstract

The ethnic component of modern Turkey's foreign policy is analyzed. It is established that there are currently no scientific studies on the number of minorities in Turkey, and the issue of counting the number of ethnic groups is quite controversial, since the state does not ask citizens about their ethnic, religious or other origin during the census. It has been proven that the ethnic factor in the Republic of Turkey is often used to solve domestic and foreign policy problems, and in this regard, there have been cases of rigid Turkification and cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities. Ankara stimulates violations of the rights of non-Turkic national minorities, non-tolerance of religious confessions, and continues to implement its pan-Turkic programs. As a result, the ethnic policy of modern Turkey remains quite controversial and continues to be influenced by domestic and foreign policy factors, the main ones being the competition for power among the main political actors and the desire to join the EU. It is determined that in practice, Turkey is far from a real solution to the Kurdish problem. It is established that in its foreign policy, modern Turkey constantly supports the course of expanding its influence outside the country and develops the idea of the Turkic-Turkish cultural space. R. Erdogan's government has strengthened Turkey's comprehensive cooperation with Turkic-speaking states and states where Turkic peoples live. It is concluded that modern Turkey demonstrates the strengthening of pan-Turkish ideology in the political space and the intensification of pan-Turkish influence on linguistically, culturally and religiously related states. Despite the fact that official Ankara enshrines the democratic principles of public administration and their interaction with the population at the regulatory level, the Turkish political regime tends to neglect democratic principles.