An empire lived continuously for 700 years in the history… Richness of centuries whose diplomacy bridges today with the past… Foundation of today’s diplomacy is laid by them. Of course I’m mentioning the Ottoman Empire who accompanied centuries.
As you know, Ottoman Dynasty is the longest-lived dynasty reigned continuously in the world. Under the reign of this dynasty,Ottoman Empire was governed successfully and could live for more than 6 centuries. It’s surely beyond doubt that it left an important inheritance to world in understanding of economic, political and cultural aspects. But I want to concentrate this wide range on diplomacy area which forms one of serious agendas of Turkey.
Today, Modern Turkey is the most important inheritor of Ottoman diplomacy. So, what was the keyword on which the world moves on today and which forms the skeleton of foreign politics? In its narrow sense, diplomacy is the art of negotiation and communication between governments of sovereign states. In broad meaning, we can call it international relations. Therefore, diplomacy history is the history of international relations. And thus, this history is also the history of interaction of policies representing different benefits.
That’s to say, Ottoman diplomacy means foreign relations of Ottoman Empire. Inheritance of Ottoman Empire to the near east was left on the beginning of 19-20th centuries. Diplomacy governance is not a part of an inheritance left on periods before 19th century. Because, unlike European rulers,Ottoman Empire would not send permanent ambassadors abroad. Ambassadors would go to foreign capitals with certain duties but they wouldn’t stay there permanently. And this was a qualified behavior which proved that Ottomans were the most important emperor to be respected, for those periods.
The Republic did not only inherit the lands in the center of The Empire, military elite, which played a major role on foundation of a new government, was also an inheritance to The Republic. But with no doubt, the most important inheritance from this dynasty is protecting the independence and never being a dominion. A certain part of the empire inheritance transferred to The Republic carried negative properties. These were lessons about what should not be done. Not trying to recreate heterogeneous Ottoman Empire again. Holding many populations that are not Turkish together. According to Atatürk, empire was already a major burden and The Republic would not undertake it again.
Another negative inheritance was the lesson that we should not become indebted to foreign countries. Ottoman Empire, who couldn’t overcome the cost of Crimean war, was obliged to take on foreign debt for the first time on 1854 in order to put right its treasury. But when we arrive to today, outstanding external debt of Turkey was realized as 197.2 billion dollars as end of March 2012. Maybe, our being in G-20 and being listed as 16th Economy of the world did not touch this inheritance. Among the other negative inheritances, the most important of them was the lesson to be taken from the mistake of Ottoman Empire: “Stay away from war!”. Based on the mistake on 1st World War, despite all the pressures,Turkey was able to stay neutral. Atatürk especially told that war should be avoided if not it’s indispensable; we should be ready for war in order to live in peace, and emphasized this with his saying: ‘Peace at Home, Peace in the World’.
Its positive aspect is that, the most important inheritance of the empire is placing importance on independence and territorial integrity of Turkey; it has a central place on the foreign policy of The Republic. Furthermore, basic purpose of National Struggle Period is introducing Turkish Government on the international area and this formed the basics of establishment foreign policy of Republic of Turkey with Treaty of Lausanne. Basic foreign politics determined the goal as not making concessions to independence in any way, also adopted reaching to level of contemporary civilization with radical revolutions that Turkish Republic realized in economic, cultural and social areas and with revolutions that Atatürk put into practice and going beyond them as ideal.
When we look at the agenda of Turkey with the perspective brought by this rich inheritance, it is not difficult to interpret Syria crisis and things happening… While empires in holding a wide range of races within itself created an important burden on governing,Turkey’s strategy of allowing Syrian citizens into its borders today is an indicator that can be counted as a breach of inheritance… Moreover, we have entered into a problematic process with most contiguous countries. Diplomatic relations are in a tense state. Politics editions coming from foreign world relations and being left alone not only by USA but also by NATO in this process are among the first matters of facts noticed… But even though Turkey tries to approach contiguous countries with good intentions and tries to follow a good foreign policy, it is left ineffective in a provocative way and it is abused. Making the planes crash and casualty news, silent observation of contiguous countries increases the pulse of diplomatic common sense which is being shown. War is never a solution, but it is a destructive danger that brings problems with it…
But the fact is that; the state of affairs reminds again that a powerful diplomacy inheritance of ours which should be based on decisions made or will be made. Critical days are awaiting us where we can overcome them by the lessons taken from the magnificent Ottoman inheritance which is the compass of the way to be followed on diplomacy and which shows we can illuminate the future by our past centuries..
