Turkey and the Greater Eurasian Partnership: Opportunities and Challenges in "Amalgamated" Regionalism


BABA G., ERŞEN E.

ULUSLARARASI ILISKILER-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, vol.20, no.79, pp.123-141, 2023 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 20 Issue: 79
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.33458/uidergisi.1298205
  • Journal Name: ULUSLARARASI ILISKILER-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Political Science Complete, vLex, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.123-141
  • Keywords: Russia, China, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, foreign policy, geopolitics
  • Marmara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP), introduced by Russia in 2015, is a regional integration project that aims to encompass the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With this broad spectrum, it embodies various forms of regionalism, arranges a flexible institutional structure for non-/governmental actors without denting their other regional affiliations and provides commercial, developmental, and security opportunities. Such features could also facilitate the GEP's ability to enhance Turkey's recent efforts to deepen its relations with Asia. In return, Turkey could play several key roles for the GEP with its "dialogue partner" status in the SCO, "Middle Corridor" initiative for the BRI, and well-established links in Central Asia. Originating from potential mutual interests, this study applies a theoretical perspective underlining the commonalities of various regionalism categories to analyze the GEP's amalgamated nature and highlight its significance for Turkey's political-economic priorities without undermining its traditional ties with the West.