Kemalist Turkey and the Middle East
International Relations in the Interwar Period

A multifaceted study of Turkey's diplomatic, economic, social and cultural relations with the Middle East in the interwar period.

Amit Bein (Author)

9781316647981, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 March 2020

305 pages, 17 b/w illus. 8 maps
23 x 15.3 x 1.6 cm, 0.5 kg

'Bein's extensive and insightful research, written in a vivid and enticing style is a 'must read' for everyone interested in the Middle East, Turkey and the role of the colonial powers, especially Britain, in the area.' Çi?dem Bal?m, Journal of Anglo-Turkish Relations

To better understand the lasting legacy of international relations in the post-Ottoman Middle East, we must first re-examine Turkey's engagement with the region during the interwar period. Long assumed to be a period of deliberate disengagement and ruptured ties between Turkey and its neighbours, Amit Bein instead argues that in the volatile 1930s, Turkey was in fact perceived as taking steps towards increasing its regional prominence. Bein examines the unstable situation along Turkey's Middle Eastern borders, the bilateral diplomatic relations Ankara established with fledgling governments in the region, grand plans for transforming Turkey into a major transit hub for Middle Eastern and Eurasian transportation and trade, and Ankara's effort to enhance its image as a model for modernization of non-Western societies. Through this, he offers a fresh, enlightening perspective on the Kemalist legacy that still resonates in the modern politics of the region today.

List of figures
List of maps
1. Not so distant neighbor
2. Degrees of separation
3. Ties that bind
4. Great expectations
5. The Turkish model
6. Strolling through Instanbul
7. A distant neighbor
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Middle Eastern history [HBJF1]