Turkey’s current relations with both the U.S. and the EU are at one of the lowest points in the republic's history. Turkey’s self-proclaimed goal of seeking “strategic autonomy” in its foreign policy is predicated on the assumption that the international order has already entered a post-Western phase, in which maximum autonomy from Western norms and institutions should be attained. This foreign policy approach has implications for its domestic politics and the future of its democracy, as well as for Turkey’s contestatory practices of the international order. This panel will discuss the drivers behind Turkey’s quest for strategic autonomy, the parallels with other middle powers, its repercussions for the West and the global order, and possible future scenarios.
