International Institutions and European Security: a Turkish perspective

Abstract

The world order is increasingly being reshaped along the lines of the classical system of balance of power and concomitant spheres of influence. While the merits of this are debatable, it is indisputable that no clear modus vivendi has been established in international relations. During the euphoria connected with the collapse of communist systems, expectations ran high. Some even welcomed ‘the end of history’: liberalism had triumphed. But subsequent events indicated that liberalism had only begun to penetrate societies where it had previously been repressed. Meanwhile, history has reasserted itself with a vengeance, and the question of how to manage international security remains open.