Turkey's populism is America's gain
Friday, July 30, 2010 at 12:02AM
Thomas P.M. Barnett in Citation Post, Turkey

FT full-page analysis on Turkey’s new orientation in foreign policy.

Core logic by way of a Turkish expert at Brookings (Omer Taspinar):

What we are witnessing is not the emergence of an Islamist foreign policy but rather the rise of a populist government that caters to and exploits Turkish frustration with America and Europe.

Nothing odd there compared to, say, a rising America of the late 19th century.

Complain as you care to, but this is the best we can hope for.  You want a “multi-partner world”?  This is what it looks like:  rising powers with foreign policies that cater to their emerging middle classes in all their conflicting desires.   There is no alternative.

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