Ontological security-seeking in Turkish–Israeli relations: prospects and challenges of normalisation

ABSTRACT

This article examines the tensions in Turkish–Israeli relations during the 2010s as well as prospects and challenges of normalisation from an ontological security perspective. Emphasising the role of conflicts in the provision of ontological security, it illustrates how frictions with Israel and attachment to the Palestinian issue serve the identity needs of Turkey’s political elites and provides additional avenues for responding to legitimacy challenges. The article suggests that comprehensive normalisation of relations remains elusive and uncertain despite recent positive steps as this may engender ontological insecurity for both countries and can lead to a backlash towards hostile identities.

KEYWORDS:

• Ontological security
• identity
• Turkey
• Israel
• normalisation
• Palestinian-Israeli conflict
• routines
• narrative

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

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2. Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity, 92.

3. Giddens, Modernity and Self-Identity, 12.

4. Malksoo, “Memory Must be Defended,” 1–17; and Subotic, “Narrative, Ontological Security,” 610–627.

5. Mitzen, “Ontological Security in World Politics”; Mitzen and Larson, “Ontological Security”; Kinnvall, “Globalization”; Steele, “Ontological Security and the Power of Self-Identity”; and Steele, Ontological Security.

6. Mitzen, “Ontological Security in World Politics,” 343.

7. Oppermann and Hansel, “Ontological Security of Special Relationships.”

8. Rumelili, ed., Conflict Resolution; and Ejdus, “Conflict.”

9. Rumelili, “Ontological (In)security,” 24.

10. Rumelili and Çelik, “Ontological Insecurity.”

11. Rumelili, “Integrating Anxiety.”

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15. Lupovici, “Ontological Security.”

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22. Çapan and Zarakol, “Turkey’s Ambivalent Self.”

23. Jerusalem Post, March 24, 2022

24. See note 16 above.

25. Tabletmag, March 14, 2022.

26. Aviv, Antisemitism, 78.

27. Al Ghazzi and Marwan Kraidy, “Neo-Ottoman Cool 2,” 2350.

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29. Bloomberg HT, September 6, 2011.

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31. Jerusalem Post, March 24, 2022.

32. See note 28 above.

33. Washington Post, February 28, 2013.

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42. See note 35 above.

43. Daily Sabah, May 16, 2018.

44. Hürriyet, May 15, 2018.

45. I24 News, March 13, 2019.

46. Yeni Şafak, October 1, 2020.

47. See note 45 above.

48. Browning and Joenniemi, “The Ontological Significance.”

49. Behravesh, “State Revisionism.”

50. Time, August 18, 2022.

51. For a detailed discussion see Hansson, “Discursive Strategies.”

52. TRT Haber, December 22, 2021.

53. Hürriyet, January 22, 2022.

54. Anadolu Agency, March 9, 2022.

55. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/president-herzog-meets-representatives-of-the-turkish-jewish-community-9-mar-2022.

56. Daily Sabah, May 25, 2022.

57. Kaasik-Krogerus et al., “Politics of Memory.”

58. Times of Israel, May 25, 2022.

59. Reuters, August 23, 2022.

60. Haber Global, August 23, 2022.

61. Subotic, “Narrative, Ontological Security & Foreign,” 610–627.

62. See note 15 above.

63. BBC Türkçe, October 8, 2023.

64. Reuters, October 11, 2023.

65. Le Monde, October 30. 2023.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Enver Gülseven

Enver Gülseven is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and the Head of the Department of International Relations, Girne American University, Northern Cyprus