Geopolitical Regionalisms Resulting From US-Led GWOT, Colour Revolutions and Arab Spring: Implications for Turkish Defence and Foreign Policy

Abstract

Geopolitical regionalisms are a mechanism of managing influence in a particular region at a particular point in time. They exist and are driven by powers vying for influence at the expense of others, in turn, influenced by the nature of the geopolitical era in which they exist. The Cold War saw a bipolar world, where geopolitical regionalisms were achieved by the two superpowers, often through their proxies. This was replaced by a monopolar world order after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The current transforming global order towards a multipolar world has created a lot of chaos through the United States seeking to maintain its global hegemony and thwart competition. This is accomplished through creating branded events in international relations, such as the Global War On Terror or the Arab Spring. The goal is to manage the international system as envisaged by the strategic imperatives mentioned by Brzezinski in 1997, through weakening opponents and keeping allies dependent. As such, tremendous challenges have been created for Turkey in handling its foreign and security policy interests as a regional power in the Middle East.