Turkey and Eurasianism

 Moscow and Ankara gradually forming a common ideology of interactionThe book "Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey. Across the pages of Eurasian ideas" by Sergey Seliverstov has been presented at the Lomonosov  Moscow State University. The Kazakh academic is one of the first in post-Soviet territories to research such a key constituent of the Eurasian idea as the Turkic aspect. As it has been reasonably noticed in his research, the first wide-ranging attempt to comprehend the "Asian" ancestry of the Turkish people was made in the time of Ataturk, when the "Turkish-Eurasian" trend of social opinion was being formed.

However, this process could take its course without problems, because the circumstances of the Turkish political history didn't make it possible to preserve and maintain this trend, regardless of the booming change, which took place during the period of 1930-1950s. A scope of polemics between authoritative philosophers, historians, social scientists varied from nationalism to Westernism.

Turkish historian Taner Timur said on the subject: "Our society is experiencing an identity crisis. We failed to identify our place in world history and to what civilization we belong.”

Selivestrov's conclusion that Turkey's appearance in the post-Soviet space in 1990 has significantly intensified debates on the unique way this state may be agreed with. Moreover, Ankara tried on the role of the "Turkic region's" leader, but, along with the upsurge of radical public sentiments, at the other extreme can be seen the revival of interest in the Eurasian ideology. As the researcher noticed correctly, Turkey’s way to modern Eurasia naturally went through the "ideal Turan". Applied Eurasianism as a formula of real integration has impelled the Turkish elite to include in the "Eurasian trend" not only the republics of Central Asia, but also Russia.

The former Turkish president, Suleyman Demirel, speaking at the conference "Eurasia nowadays" made an important statement:" Turkey aspires neither to pan-Turkism, nor to pan-Islamism. The great Turkic community has never existed as an integrated state in the course of its great history".

The Turkish elite gradually came to the obvious conclusion - Turkey and Russia are the two poles of Eurasian civilization. A pragmatic approach and realism inevitably urge Russia, Turkey and Kazakhstan to closer and more responsible interaction concerning a whole range of humanitarian, socio-cultural and political issues. It isn't that that this process proceeds beyond the context of new regional realities. However, apart from situational reflection, Russia and Turkey gradually form a common ideology of interaction, which will supplement political practices, making this cooperation more stable and mutually beneficial.

Alexei Vlasov. Exclusively for VC