It has an extensive background and very well-educated, content, hardworking and disciplined bureaucrats, making it one of the most important institutions for Turkish enlightenment. The appointment of Davutoğlu to such an essential institution has many important points. Davutoğlu is an academic who has authored many theoretical works and is experienced in international relations. The third and most critical point that distinguishes Davutoğlu -- the only non-parliamentarian to join the new Cabinet in the reshuffle -- from other academics, bureaucrats and politicians is that he has a vision for foreign policy and the political will to realize this vision. Since assuming the role of chief adviser to the prime minister in 2002, when the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to power, Davutoğlu has made significant contributions to Turkey’s foreign policy vision. Now he has found the opportunity to put into practice his theoretical work of the last seven years. Like former visionary ministers, Davutoğlu is expected to facilitate a positive internal restructuring of the Foreign Ministry.
Take, for example, Hikmet Çetin, who reduced differences between technical civil servants and administrative civil servants (whose work ID cards were even different colors). He made important and lasting changes in the Foreign Ministry by establishing the Center for Strategic Research (SAM) and the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) and by creating a staff of regional experts.
During Gül’s tenure as foreign minister, an additional building was built for the ministry, the number of personnel was increased, new efforts were begun in Africa, Latin America and the Far East and new plans were introduced to increase consistency between the economy and foreign policy.
As for Davutoğlu’s appointment, it was a move expected by diplomats both in Ankara and abroad. But the issue of most concern has been whether Turkey will begin a foreign policy effort that leans towards the Middle East during Davutoğlu’s period. Certainly successful and lasting projects were implemented in the Middle East when Davutoğlu was the chief foreign policy adviser. But it’s normal for Davutoğlu to lead works in the Middle East considering the fact that Europe, the Atlantic, Cyprus and the Middle East are important places in Turkey’s foreign policy. Furthermore, developing relations with the Middle East, with which we lived under the same ruling power for 500 years and have historical, religious and familial ties to, is long overdue.
Turkey’s foreign policy will undergo not just general but serious reform with Davutoğlu. Turkey has entered a new phase in which many structures will undergo reorganization. New efforts are starting in a many places ranging from Kosovo to Georgia and from Iraq to Darfur. It won’t be a solely Middle East vision but a general vision. Turkey is becoming an organized country that not only reacts to crises but can predict crises before they happen. Instead of developing problem-free relations, it is seeking to make the most out of relations. Today, foreign policy entails not only diplomacy but also the economy, energy and culture. With a multidimensional foreign policy, it is certain that Davutoğlu will develop diverse multidirectional and multi-regional initiatives and perform successfully.
