Browsing by Subject "military"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Open Access
Dynamics of the alliance between Turkey and USA : the South Caucasus case
(2003) Ayhan, Halil Sıddık
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus presented several opportunities and challenges in the political, economic and military domains to the US as the unique superpower of the world, and to Turkey as a regional power. Though there occurred several crises in the Turkish-American alliance from its outset, both states whose interests converged; encouraging the development of democratic pro-Western regimes and free-market economy, hindering ethnic conflicts, expanding NATO’s membership, blocking monopolization of oil export routes in the Caucasus, securing oil reserves in the Caspian, preventing the rebuilding of the Russian Empire and falling the newly independent states of the South Caucasus from falling into the hegemony of Russia and Iran, keeping Iran’s fundamentalist regime in check, and pursuing active politics in the South Caucasus as a duty for the sake of their own global and regional interests. But, there had been also differences in the allies’ politics as in the NagornoKarabakh conflict. However, the South Caucasian states, including Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia faced enormous difficulties in enhancing their national security, implementing the process of state building and improving their economic situation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and therefore, independence for these states did not initially provide political stability. Internal conflicts, and Russia’s imperialist policies undermined these states’ efforts in order to be strong and independent states, and they could not cope with the challenges of the new geopolitical and economic environment due to the lack of their own military power, and strong economy. Thereupon, these states’ first years of independence have been fraught with economic, political, and social difficulties. But the vigorous efforts of the US and Turkey prevented the South Caucasian states from falling into Russian hegemony and accelerated state-building process of these countries as examined in this study
Open Access
The military organization of the Akıncıs in Ottoman Rumelia
(2004) Kiprovska, Mariya
This study's primary objective is to shed light on the peculiarities of one military corps in the Ottoman army, particularly that of the akıncıs. Examining the first so far known akıncı defteri from the second half of the fifteenth century with all its peculiarities and putting it into the historical context of the time, this research stresses its importance. Moreover, taking a look on the preceding centuries of the Ottoman history, in which the raiders (akıncılar)and especially their military commanders played a great role in the Ottoman military advance on the Balkans, prominence is given to the possible breaking point in the organizational status of a defined body of the akıncı corps in the Ottoman army,which the defter from 1472 marks in this troop's existence. Thus the study attempts to examine the corps in its first formative stage when it became a distinctive body of the centralized Ottoman military forces. Therefore, an examination is made on the character of the first Ottoman advance into Balkan territories, when the traditions of the marches represented by the prominent akıncı leaders, was still playing a great role in the Ottoman military actions. The time of Mehmed the Conqueror and especially the register for the raiders' recruitment from the second half of the fifteenth century, come to illustrate the assimilation of the representatives of the frontier culture into the centralized structures of the growing Empire. The development of both-the corps itself and its commanders, has been examined. Consequently, the final aim of this study is to reveal the early stages of the akıncı corps in terms of organization.
Open Access
Thrace on the East : Georgia?
(2004) Kiremitçi, İlker
Since Turkey has turned its face towards Europe, it can be concluded that one of its ‘backs’ is the Caucasian region. However, Caucasia may not constitute Turkey’s first security priority under present conditions, but this does not mean that it will not, in the future. Therefore, that Turkey should consider its ‘back’ from the security perspective is an indisputable reality. In that sense, this thesis examines one of the Caucasian states, namely GEORGIA, which is in the middle of the region, from the security point of view. How Georgia has been affecting Turkish security policies after the end of Cold War is the main concern of the thesis.
Open Access
Turkey and the Balkans in the post-cold war era : diplomatic
(2009) Ekinci, Didem
This dissertation argues that as a region in which Turkey has been no stranger since the end of the 14th century, the Balkans poses political, military, and economic significance for Turkey. Turkey has strong historical ties with the Balkans; the region is a strategic link between Turkey and Europe; Ankara is concerned that the Turkish minority in the region remain integrated in their host countries; and there is also a remarkable amount of Balkan immigrants in Turkey who are influential on Ankara’s Balkan policies. Therefore, Turkey’s engagement in the regional developments intensified after 1990. However, the intensity of relations lost momentum after 1995 due to more pressing domestic and foreign policy issues, causing a lack of strong cooperation network between political, military and economic fields. In this framework, the main research questions in this dissertation will be based on finding under what circumstances Turkey’s political, diplomatic, economic and military relations towards the region have been formulated after 1990 and whether (and how) these policies displayed continuity or disruptions became possible throughout. It argues that well-worked policies towards the region can be achieved if political, diplomatic, economic and military relations are treated evenly.