Surveys and the number of people participating in campaign rallies have revealed that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) garners the most public interest, followed by the Republican People's Party (CHP). Therefore, it is important that we review the promises these two parties are making vis-à-vis Turkey's foreign policy.The AK Party's declaration and analyses of their four years in government suggest their policies will not only be sustained but will also be developed further. The CHP's platform, however, was less about the election and more like a "statement of complaint" against the AK Party administration's foreign policy.
Moreover, the amount of space both parties reserved for foreign policy reflects the different levels of determination between the two. While the AK Party's manifesto had 20 pages on foreign policy, the CHP had just three. Let's review the foreign policy promises of the CHP, given that it will be quick to cover.
Although the CHP had vowed to make Turkey a leader and model country in the region and the world, for some ironic reason it has always avoided adopting any policy that would allow Turkey to achieve such a position. With a stance in domestic policy that clashes with democracy, I don't know if people believe it when the CHP says "We will make Turkey, which is the most active, powerful and democratic country in the region, an active defender of peace and democracy. We will ensure that Turkey becomes a 'leading and model country' for the spread of democracy in the region."
The CHP promises they will create reciprocal relations of respect and trust with neighboring countries and will contribute to planting the understanding of a democracy and nation state in the region. But this brings to mind the question of how it will be able to do this in a distressed Iraq that lacks unity. Claiming that they want full membership in an EU that will respect the principles of equal opportunity, nation-state, a unitary and secular state, the CHP is obviously concerned that the current EU is a threat to the Turkish nation-state, its unity and its secularism. But for the sake of consistency, shouldn't a CHP that perceives the EU as a threat be against the EU? Perhaps it is against it, but does not want to display its opposition at this point.
When reading the part on foreign policy in the AK Party declaration, I felt like I was reading Prime Ministry Chief Foreign Policy Advisor Ahmet Davutoğlu's book "Stratejik Derinlik" (Strategic Depth), which he wrote before he was appointed advisor. The depth, strength and confident tone of the analysis and explanation of what needs to be done is evidence that the book's author was consulted while preparing the manifesto. The only difference in the declaration was that most of the policies that the book highlights as ones Turkey must adopt were introduced during the AK Party administration and will continue at a more developed level if the AK Party is re-elected.
The AK Party declaration says: "Turkey is a multifaceted and multi-dimensioned country with regard to its foreign policy agenda and responsibilities. Turkey is a European and Asian as well as a Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian, Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, Balkan, Middle Eastern and Caucasian country. Our historical experience, geographic and cultural depth and strategic location mandate a well-determined, unified and multifaceted foreign policy" and hints that policies developed in line with this analysis will continue.
The AK Party said it would adopt "not a crisis-based, but a vision-based" approach to make Turkey a regional power and effective global actor. The AK Party vowed that Turkey would no longer be a reactionary country but an effective actor that will be able to direct developments with its regional and global vision.
The declaration noted that after the 9/11 attacks, with the AK Party administration Turkey was the only country to broaden freedoms despite the wars and tensions in the region, implying that foreign threats will not discourage them from implementing democratic and liberalizing policies.
The AK Party, which perceives freedom and security as complementary, not opposing, principles, aims to strengthen economic, cultural and political ties with neighboring countries and create a basin of peace and affluence in the region.
"We have adopted an approach that is effective in the international arena, produces long-term solutions instead of short term and is based on healthy and rational analyses instead of reflexes," the declaration reads. Particular examples of this approach are offered in the section explaining the active policies adopted for bilateral or multilateral problems in the Middle East, Iraq and Cyprus.
It is so obvious that the AK Party is way ahead of the CHP with regard to its foreign policy objectives written in their party manifesto.
