Religion and preferences: a decision-theoretic explanation of Turkey's new foreign policy

Date
2012
Authors
Güner, S. Ş.
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Source Title
Foreign Policy Analysis
Print ISSN
1743-8586
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Publisher
Oxford University Press
Volume
8
Issue
3
Pages
217 - 230
Language
English
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Abstract

Religious beliefs can affect preferences of decision makers who formulate and guide foreign policy. This article investigates the relationship between preferences affected by Islamic worldview of Turkey’s new leadership and foreign policy the new elite conduct through two simple models. The models are games against nature; thus, Turkey is the only decision maker facing no strategic uncertainty. It is found that the subjective estimates of achieving gains under the new foreign policy (NWP) and the old foreign policy (SQP) are critical and distinct from gains and costs of both policies. The new Turkish foreign policy (NWP) is a reversible move, even though Turkish decision makers evaluate it as generating a higher gain and a lower cost compared with the preservation of the status quo (SQP). The implementation of the NWP does not only depend on its gain but also on how attractive is the SQP.

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Published Version (Please cite this version)