Turkey and the BRICS: Can Turkey Join the BRICS?

Abstract

There is growing Turkish interest in the BRICS, and an ever-growing positive public perception of them. Criticism is rare, as the BRICS are interpreted as an important alternative direction in pursuit of global prestige and a new role for Turkey. Although, there is yet to be a well-defined official strategy, Ankara is interested in increasing its relationship with the BRICS. This paper aims to analyze three intertwined questions that intrude upon the putative relationship: What does “the BRICS” mean? A study of Turkey's position vis-à-vis the BRICS requires an analysis of the latter in terms of their nature, evolution and vision. What are the similarities and differences between Turkey and the BRICS? Is Turkey already a BRICS country? Or, is Turkey only eligible for BRICS membership? What are the pros and cons of a possible Turkish membership of the BRICS consortium?

Acknowledgements

This article would not have been possible without the support of many people. The author wishes to express his gratitude first to Tarık Oğuzlu and Emel Parlar who were abundantly helpful and offered invaluable assistance during the preparation of this special issue. Deepest gratitude are also due to Isa Afacan, Oguz Dilek and Bezen Coskun who contributed a lot with their insights and questions. The author also wishes to thank to anonymous readers of the Turkish Studies.

Notes on contributor

Gokhan Bacik is an associate professor of Political Science at Ipek University. He has previously taught at Central European University and Luxembourg Institute. He is the author of September 11 and World Politics (2004) and Modern International System: Genealogy, Teleology and the Expansion (2007). He has numerous publications in scholarly journals such as Foreign Affairs, Middle East Policy and the International Review of Sociology. His most recent book is Hybrid Sovereignty in the Arab Middle East (2008). Bacik is also an associate member of Turkish Academy of Sciences.

Notes

1. Cagaptay, “Defining Turkish Power,” 14.

2. Walt, The Origins of Alliances, 5.

3. Haibin, “BRICS in Global Governance: A Progressive Force?” 5.

4. Laidi, “The BRICS Against the West?” 3.

5. Frankenstein, “The BRICS: A Lost Hope?” 189.

6. Laidi, “The BRICS Against the West?” 1.

7. Cameron, The EU and the BRICS, 2.

8. Nolte, “How to Compare Regional Powers,” 883.

9. Ibid., 892.

10. Renard, “A BRIC in the World,” 28.

11. Pant, Contemporary Debates in Indian Foreign and Security Policy, 49.

12. Cameron, The EU and the BRICS, 3.

13. Laidi, “The BRICS Against the West?” 10.

14. Saraiva, “The BRIC Countries,” 5.

15. Roberts, “Building the New World Order BRIC by BRIC,” 5.

16. Laidi, “The BRICS Against the West?” 11.

17. Wight, International Theory Three Traditions, 1–15.

18. Gurtov, “Changing Perspectives and Policies,” 18.

19. Mensah, “China's Foray into Africa,” 96.

20. Zweig, “The Rise of a New Trading Nation,” 38.

21. Ibid.

22. Onuf, “Constructivism: A User's Manual,” 58.

23. Ashton, “Speech on EU Foreign Policy.”

24. Brütsch and Papa, “Deconstructing the BRICS,” 3.

25. Ibid., 4.

26. Oran, Türk Dış Politikası I, 49.

27. Brütsch and Papa, “Deconstructing the BRICS,” 4.

28. Davutoğlu, “Principles of Turkish Foreign Policy,” 6.

29. Ibid., 7.

30. Bacik, “Envisioning the Asia-Pacific Century,” 3.