Eurasianism in Turkey: A Look at Russia and the Formation of Its Own Paradigm

The article is devoted to the analysis of the development of the Eurasian thought in Turkey. The analysis of the works of Turkish specialists devoted to Russian Eurasianism shows that they pay special attention to a number of points. Firstly, they indicate the naturalness of such an ideological thought for Russia, which seeks to become the leading state of Eurasia and oppose itself to Western countries. Secondly, the great role of V.V. Putin’s coming to power, under whose leadership the country began to transform its foreign policy, devoting more and more time to the post-Soviet space, is noted. A distinctive feature of Tur- kish researchers’ analysis of Russian Eura- sianism was an attempt to present it in a negative way. There is a tendency to present Russia’s Eurasian policy as “neo-imperial”, seeking to take control of this geography. The problem of misunderstanding Eurasianism by Turkish researchers and incorrect interpretation of Russia’s actions and messages in relation to Eurasia is obvious. The development of Eurasian thought in Turkey itself is due to a narrow understanding of Eurasia within the framework of the Caucasus and Central Asia. A number of currents of Eurasianism were formed, including nationalist, multiculturalist and Western Eurasianism. The nationalist understanding of Eurasianism has become prevalent in Turkish scientific discourse. As a result, Eurasianism began to be associated with pan-Turkism and Turkey’s policy towards Turkic states and peoples. Turkish researchers emphasize the importance of the Turkic states within Eurasia and their key role in this geography, which can be the basis for increasing their role in this region. This circumstance determines Turkey’s more active policy in the “Turkic world” in order to gain regional leadership in it. Turkish Eurasianism, devoid of basic concepts and principles, could not form into an adequate ideology or country within the framework of the country’s foreign policy.

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