Browsing by Subject "Central Asia"

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12

Open Access
Building of a “new” architectural tradition in Kyrgyzstan: the case study of the open air park “Manas Ayili”
(2020-01) Baiborieva, Zhamilia
Kyrgyzstan experienced very critical moment during a transition from the Soviet Union state into new independent republic. Despite being rooted in the rich history of great civilizations and cultural traditions, there was an urge for the new national identity, which would unify people. In this context, new national elites promoted a mythical figure of the noble Kyrgyz hero - Manas, to portray the primordial origins of Kyrgyz culture and a tradition centred on him. It turned his image into a powerful tool to forge a new Kyrgyz identity in a nation building process. The same year, a governmental committee announced a design competition for a realization of an open-air ethno-cultural park - “Manas Ayili”. The winner of the competition, a Kyrgyz architect Dyushen Omuraliev supervised both design and construction processes in the project. The aim of this thesis is to study the discourse of Omuraliev, and in particular to focus on his attempt on transfer of ethnic, cultural and mythical symbols into an architectural language. A “new” national architectural language expected to embody values and ideals of the brand new Kyrgyz nation, and at the same time to herald the construction of the strong tradition to support the new national identity. The thesis attempts to analyze and discuss the case study of Manas Ayili and an approach of the architect in order to point out the number of significant connections with the architectural theories. In particular, the thesis will be evaluated through the four key criteria: locus, metaphor, type and diagram, which would allow to relocate the discussion to an international level. Eventually, the thesis attempts to derive the process of “construction” or “invention” tradition by the architect, on the background of the complex political and social changes.
Open Access
China in Central Asia: opportunities and risks of emerging Chinese hegemony for regional states
(2022-06) Çakan, Hikmet Can
This thesis aims to analyze the opportunities and risks of the emerging Chinese hegemony in Central Asia for the five regional states namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan with a special focus on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Chinese hegemony in the region is a novel and ongoing process that is a consequence of the interplay between three necessary but not sufficient factors that are China’s rise, absence of other great powers, and Central Asian needs. Framing the opportunities and risks in three main categories of politics, economy, and security, this thesis argues that closer political economic partnership with China in its current hegemonic fashion benefit Central Asian republics in the short-run while it bears significant risks in the long-run. In each category, this thesis offers analyses of a wide array of issues that are either present on the ground or have high likelihood to emerge in the near future. The opportunities range from multivector foreign policy to development finance while the risks include social unrest, trade asymmetry, and militarization of the BRI.
Open Access
Depicting the enemy : Russians and Ottomans in the press during the First World War
(2007) Zardykhan, Zharmukhamed
The intricate course of events that led both the Russian and Ottoman Empires towards the Great War had been the culmination of long-lasting domestic and international developments, which were reflected in their policies towards the other side. However, despite the ardent hatred and evident enmity that prevailed over the Russo-Ottoman relations for centuries, both of these empires were faced with similar problems of political, socioeconomic and national character that distinguished them from the rest of Europe and Asia. Whether out of hopelessness, inevitability, greater expectations or simply as a precious opportunity to rehabilitate their former reputation, seriously damaged after iv the humiliating Russo-Japanese and Balkan wars, the levying of war against their historical enemies deeply affected each countries' entire population. The effect was particularly strong because of the advanced and elaborate total war propaganda techniques employed primarily by the press, while the religious, nationalistic and historical aspects of the confrontation made the propaganda warfare a diverse and complicated battlefield. The main objective of this work is the presentation, comparison and analysis of a great variety of controversial pieces of information related to the Russo-Ottoman confrontation prior to and during the First World War. This information reveals personal prejudice, ethnic, religious and political affiliation of the authors, as well as deliberate attempts to spread misinformation and propaganda.
Open Access
The Ferghana Valley as a factor of instability
(2000) Sydykov, Aslan
After the collapse of the Soviet Union the huge territory of Central Asia turned to be one of the most conflict-ridden 1nd unstable areas in thr world. Several bloody uprisings have occurred and are occurring in the region, including some in the Ferghana Valley. This valley plays a crucial role in the economic, social and political life of three of five of the central Asian states: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. The pre-Soviet and Soviet legacy and the problems raised since the independence of these states makes me to determine several factors that directly influence on stability in the region. This thesis tries to show how these factors destabilise situation in the Ferghana Valley and the Central Asian region as a whole.
Open Access
Germany and Turkestanis during the course of the World War II (1941-1945)
(2010) Sakal, Halil Burak
This thesis focuses on the debates about the nationalities issue in the Soviet Union with a special emphasis on the situation of the peoples living in the Soviet Central Asia during the World War II. The thesis traces the history of the Soviet Central Asia on the eve of the World War II and the patterns of behavior of the Turkestani soldiers in the Soviet Army during the war. This study also looks upon Hitler Germany and National Socialist movement within a framework of the German change of attitude towards the Asiatic and Turkic peoples of the Soviet Union before and during the World War II. Finally, it tries to find an answer to the question, why the Turkestani Muslim soldiers fought under German ranks and to which degree this contributed to the nationalism of the Central Asian peoples.
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Kazım Dursun’un anılarıyla Ahıskalıların sürgünü
(Bilkent University, 2024) Bayraktaroğlu, Ata Orhun; Özkasap, Nalan Nursena; Akyol, Taylan; Sayın, Oğuz Efe; Oba, Bartu Arın
Ahıska Türkleri 1944 yılında anavatanlarından zorla göçe tabi tutulup ikinci sınıf vatandaş olarak Sovyetler Birliği’nin birçok ülkesine sürgün edilmiştir. Bu sürgüne tabi tutulanlar insanlık dışı şartlarda trenlerde aylarca yolculuğa zorlanmış ve daha sonrada yerleştikleri bölgelerde karşılaştıkları şartlar bu milleti birlik ve bütünlüğününe geri dönülemeyecek düzeyde hasar vermiştir. Kazım Dursun ile, kendisi bu sürgünün bizzat tanığıdır, yapılan röportajda bu sürgünün metotları, yerleştirildikleri cumhuriyetlerde gördükleri muamele ve bu sürgüne tanık olmuş birçok kişinin yaşadığı zorluklar ve kaderlerini onarma çabaları detaylandırılır.
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Onur Öymen’in NATO daimi temsilciliği: Türkiye’nin NATO’daki rolünü güçlendirmeyi amaçladığı dönem
(Bilkent University, 2023) Tümer, Mert; Çiçekçi, Zeynep Burçe; Yıldız, Maryame Deniz; Cesur, Rana Ecem; Yılmaz, Berk
Makalede Onur Öymen’in NATO daimi temsilciliği döneminde Türkiye’nin NATO’daki konumu değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca Onur Öymen üzerinden Türkiye’nin NATO üzerinde yürüttüğü politikalar ve NATO’nun bu politikalara yönelik eylemleri makalede anlatılmıştır. Bunun yanı sıra araştırma, Onur Öymen’in, NATO daimi temsilciliği sırasında Türkiye ve NATO arasında yaşanan; gerilim, kriz ve anlaşmazlıkları nasıl ele aldığını da kapsamaktadır. Makalede, Onur Öymen aracılığıyla, NATO’nun Türkiye’ye askeri, siyasi ve mali desteği ve Türkiye ile diğer NATO üyeleri arasındaki işbirliğini ortaya koymuştur. Bu makalenin genel amacı, Onur Öymen’in NATO misyonu aracılığıyla NATO daimi temsilcisi olduğu yıllarda (1998-2002) Türkiye’nin NATO ile ilişkileri hakkında bilgi vermektir.
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Orta Asya'dan İzmir'e göç: Ahıska Türkleri
(Bilkent University, 2023) Ertaş, Emre Burak; Kaydan, Evrim Ozan; Akçay, Rana; Şenateş, Dicle; Çardak, Ömer Faruk
Bu proje Güney Kafkasya kökenli bir Türk topluluğu olan Ahıskalıların Türkiye’nin İzmir iline göç süreçleri ve bu göçün etkileri üzerinedir. Proje konu seçimini etkileyen en önemli hususlardan biri Ahıskalıların yaşadıkları topraklardan iki kere üst üste sürülerek dünya tarihinde eşine pek ender rastlanılan acı bir olaya kurban olmalarıdır. Projede Ahıskalıların tarihi, Ahıska’dan Orta Asya’ya ve ardından Anadolu’ya göç süreci, Ahıskalıların İzmir’e yerleşimi, İzmir’e göçün Ahıskalılara etkisi ve Ahıska kültürünün günümüzde İzmir’deki durumu konuları ele alınmıştır. Proje sürecinde sözlü kaynak sağlanması amacıyla Dünya Ahıska Türkleri Birliği (DATÜB) Türkiye Temsilcisi ve İzmir Ahıska Kültür Derneği Başkanı İbrahim Agara ile irtibat sağlanmış ve kendileri ile röportaj yapılmıştır.
Open Access
The partition of Khorezm and the positions of Turkestanis on Razmezhevanie
(Routledge, 2008-09) Karasar, H. A.
Cold War historiography, in many instances, explained the delimitation of borders in Central Asia as a part of Moscow's divide and rule policy in Turkestan. However, the viability of this approach can be challenged by an examination of the archival documents of the time and the actual publications of the nationalities commissariat under Stalin. Among the Bolsheviks of Turkestan, Uzbeks were leading the drive towards the repartition of Turkestan, along with their Turkmen comrades who were trying to gain land from the former Khivan Khanate, at that time the People's Soviet Republic of Khorezm. The partition of Khorezm between three newly created administrative divisions, Uzbekistan, Turkmenia and Kirgizia, played a key role in the demarcation of borders in 1924. However, from the point of view of communists from the European parts of the former Tsarist Empire, as well as others from the region, delimitation was first a betrayal of internationalism; second it was an immature project both economically and theoretically; and third, it was believed that the liquidation of the traditional Muslim states of Turkestan, namely the Bukharan Emirate and the Khivan Khanate, would have a negative impact on the image of the Soviet revolution in the eyes of reformers in other Muslim countries in the Middle East.
Open Access
Security regionalism in Central Asia
(2009) Akın, Berivan
The aim of this thesis is to provide an examination of regional security cooperation in Central Asia. The last resurgence of regionalism became a driving force for regional cooperation in Central Asia. In this process, the role of major powers, regional security threats and international system is very crucial. The aim of this thesis is to provide a deep assessment of these determinants. Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) and small Central Asian regional security initiatives were evaluated in this thesis. Due to that, the role of three major powers, Russia, the US and China in Central Asian regional security is studied in this work. iv This thesis emphasized on the current developments especially after the September 11 attacks. The US operation on Afghanistan following September 11 attacks accelerated regional cooperation in Central Asia. Contrary to the mainstream literature based on realist theory, focus on the competition between major powers for influence in the Central Asian region. This thesis argues that Central Asian security needs and major powers pragmatic concerns in the region coincide with the increasing regionalism approaches in the world politics. This coincidence will increase regional cooperation on security affairs. Moreover, major power cooperation will replace major powers competition in order to provide stability and security in the world and particularly in Central Asia.
Open Access
Turkey and the European Union : other complementary options?
(2001-09) Weidemann, Vera
Is Turkey’s perception of membership in the European Union (EU) as an ‘ultimate goal’ justified? Are there complementary options supporting Turkey’s membership in the Union? These questions are the focus of the present thesis. In order to find an answer to these questions, the present thesis displays the shift in EU policies toward Turkey from 1997 to 1999 and its reasons. Furthermore it proceeds to display the criteria Turkey has to fulfill before accession negotiations can be opened. In particular, the work examines to what extent Turkey already meets the political Copenhagen criteria and, therefore, what kind of a reform process needs to be launched in order to fulfill the requirements not yet met. While investigating complementary possibilities for cooperation, first Turkey’s chances for cooperation with its Middle Eastern neighbors, as well as with Israel and the Turkic Republics are taken up. The thesis will also examine, whether Turkey’s membership in the organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation could be supportive of its prospective accession to the EU The work concludes that although the way to accession to the EU will be rocky for Turkey, its actual membership is desirable. Turkey has to strive for membership in the EU if it wants to strengthen its position within the international system of states on the one hand and consolidate its democracy and economy on the other. Turkey’s membership in the organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation could be complementary in many respects to its prospective membership in the EU.
Open Access
Turkey's "new" foreign policy toward Eurasia
(Taylor & Francis, 2011) Bilgin, P.; Bilgiç, A.
Two geographers specializing in Turkey's international relations examine the reframing of foreign policy issues under the country's Justice and Development Party (JDP; also known by its Turkish acronym AKP), in power since 2002. After first locating the JDP within Turkey's current political landscape, the authors investigate how notions of civilizational geopolitics have led to a "new geographic imagination" under JDP that has influenced foreign policy thinking. The authors argue that JDP foreign policy exhibits some continuity with that of earlier governments in terms of activist policies toward Central Eurasia (comprising the Middle East, Central Asia, and Transcaucasia), but are based on a new conceptual foundation that views Turkey not as part of Western civilization but as the emerging leader of its own "civilizational basin" (consisting of the former Ottoman territories plus adjoining regions inhabited by Muslim and Turkic peoples). They then explore the implications for Turkey's future relations with the Central Eurasian region (of which Turkey is assumed to be the leader) and countries of the West (viewed now as "neighbors" but no longer "one of us").