US, Israel and Turkey: the new paradigm that has long been needed
by
ORHAN KEMAL CENGİZ

“Allowing a friend to careen toward self destruction is not friendship. That is a habit the United States needs to break as it pursues a richer and more deeply supportive relationship with Israel,” says Stephen Kinzer, in his recently published book, “Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s) Future.” Kinzer offers quite a fresh perspective on the Middle East in “Reset,” and he elegantly explains why the US needs to change its entire relationship with Israel:

“Israel deserves special treatment from the United States, both for historical reasons and because there can be no regional peace without a secure Israel. America, though, has at times treated Israel in ways that weaken Israel‘s own security. The bond between the two countries has become distorted. As a result, the United States has failed to promote policies that will assure Israel’s long-term stability. Instead it lurches helplessly from crisis to crisis, hostage to the hothouse clamor of Israel’s domestic politics. It is right for America to stand by Israel, but not the way it does now.

“The long conflict between Israel and Palestine has, for better or worse, become the world’s conflict. It permanently destabilizes the Middle East, blocks the settlement of urgent crises, and intensifies looming threats to the West. Yet it has become painfully clear that if the task of finding peace is left to the warring parties, there will be no peace. A settlement to this conflict cannot emerge from within. Neither Israeli nor Palestinian society has the cultural, political, psychological, or institutional resources to make the compromises that peace requires. The paradigm of conflict has become too deeply embedded in too many minds.” (page 13)

Is it possible to disagree with Kinzer’s observations?

Paradigm shift necessary

Thomas Kuhn, who is a historian of science, observed how science progressed throughout history when he concluded that scientific revolutions were not the results of the accumulation of knowledge but were realized when the old paradigms were put aside. If we apply this to international relations we can say that revolutionary progress in international relations cannot be achieved by the gradual expansion or deepening of already existing perspectives but instead it can be achieved by gaining a new understanding and a brand new framework within which we can both analyze and intervene with regard to the question at hand.

Kinzer did not mention Kuhn or his understanding of “paradigm” in his book, but he tries to do a similar thing. He tries to give the US and other international players a new paradigm through which they can realize the revolution that has long been needed in politics in the Middle East.

I do not necessarily agree with all of Kinzer’s observations and conclusions in this book. But I think all of his ideas are worthy of discussion and quite thought provoking. “Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future” should be read by everyone who is concerned about the future of the Middle East and its influence on global politics.

I would like to conclude this article with Kinzer’s stimulating advice to the US about its relations with Turkey:

“Americans have come to realize that they lack some of the historical and cultural tools necessary to navigate effectively through the Middle East and surrounding regions. They need a guide. Turkey is their best choice. As the United States shapes and carries out its policies toward Muslim countries, it should do so with Turkey at its side. … A successful partnership requires partners to listen to each other, accept each other‘s counsel, and adapt to each other‘s needs. The Turks may be ready for this kind of relationship with the United States, but America has little experience in listening to other powers. ... Shattering events of the last decade, however … have shaken Americans’ sunny “can-do” mentality. For the first time in their history, they see that there are some things in the world they cannot achieve by themselves, no matter how determined they are or how much money they spend. Many now realize that they need help … (and) the place they most need help is the Muslim world, (as) Turkey becomes America‘s next best friend.” (page 201)