Political Conditionality of Economic Interactions in the Middle East; Turkey's Relations with Iran, Iraq, and Syria

Abstract

The political logic (i.e., political perceptions of the ruling elite in a given country and nature of the political relations with other countries) determines economic activity, not the other way around, among the proto-capitalist states of the Middle East. As the political ties has primacy in the region in determining the course of economic relations, even market .oriented democratic (or quasi-democratic) countries have to accept the prominence of political-strategic relations when dealing with such states. This paper will examine the interrelated fluctuation of trade and political tensions between Turkey and its immediate Middle Eastern neighbours -Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It will highlight the political determinants of the relationship between these countries; will discuss the role of the US as the independent variable; and will assess the possible effects of the emergence of Justice and Development Party government in Turkey on country's political and economic relations with its Middle Eastern neighbours.

Keywords

Political Conditionality; Economy-Politic; Turkey's Middle East Policy; Turkish-Iranian Relations; Turkish-Syrian Relations; Turkish-Iraqi Relations.

Citation

Aydın, Mustafa, Aras, Damla, “Political Conditionality of Economic Interactions in the Middle East; Turkey's Relations with Iran, Iraq, and Syria”, International Relations, Volume 1, Issue 2 (Summer 2004), pp. 103- 128.

Affiliations

• Mustafa Aydın, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of International Relations
• Damla Aras, PhD Student and Research Assistant, King’s College, University of London