Soviet policy towards Turkey (1920-1923)


Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Tarih Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2016

Öğrenci: GÖZDE SOMEL

Danışman: RECEP BOZTEMUR

Özet:

This research is a case study, which aims at examining Soviet policy towards Turkey by contextualizing it within the complexity of post-war world affairs, complicated situation of the new Soviet government in the international field and its quest for “peaceful coexistence” through a diplomatic offensive in the East and in the West. The foundational principles of the Soviet foreign affairs were directly reflected in the policies towards Turkey, though plenty of tactical changes took place throughout the process. The years under question denote the beginning of the first interactions between the Turkish national movement and Soviet government; establishment of Soviet diplomatic mission in Ankara, familiarization of the Bolsheviks with the current situation and national movement in the country, and readjustment of Soviet policies towards the end of the Liberation War and beginning of the Republican era. Turkey had a changing role for the Soviet foreign policy in the time period discussed in the dissertation. Namely, while in the first years, Turkish national movement was considered as the leading current in the East that might set an example to other Eastern nations, later, more or less with Lausanne, this consideration was replaced by locating Turkey within the capitalist countries to be allied with, against ongoing pressures from the imperialist countries. In the dissertation, the standard view about the decision-making in the Soviet Russia as a monolithic and monodical process is questioned by explaining the many-sided and tense nature of policy making of the Soviet foreign affairs towards Turkey in the years under question.