“Turkey is not a lonely country outside of NATO and it is not controlled by NATO. It is at the center of it.”

These words were uttered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu when his opinion about NATO’s idea of missile shield in Turkey was asked at the reception by the Turkish consulate in Xi’an. This statement reliefs the anxieties about missile shield. What is more in my opinion, there cannot be any other sentence to reflect the spirit that makes all the habits and routines of our time in Turkish foreign politics upside down. 

Up to this point, Turkey has been in a contradictory situation in which Turkey could not form its own policy for its relations with Europe, the USA, and NATO; internalize the international bodies (Turkey is among these bodies and it is one of the biggest participants of the bodies); and Turkey has seen them as an external power. NATO membership was regarded as an option under harsh circumstances. Turkey was a country which was supposed to meet all the obligations of membership; it could not use any right of membership. NATO used to wish and Turkey used to obey. However, as clearly stated by Davutoğlu if NATO is a union and Turkey is a member of it for various considerations, there is nothing more natural than Turkey’s having a comparative role during decision taking.

The “rate” of participation may not be in a parallel with the power possessed and the contribution to the union. In a sense, politics is an art to use what you have in the most efficient and effective way. Obviously at this point the tone is a factor as determinative as the political will, ability, or initiative. This model is not different from the political model at micro level. That NATO’s perception of threat is based on false data and suspicions may well be proved by Turkey, which is one of the most powerful members of the union. In this respect, Turkey can use the right to open it up for discussion among other members with diplomacy after discussing a suggestion of one of the members thoroughly.

At least Turkey gives the impression that it seeks to be a determinant actor during decision processes of the organizations (in which Turkey takes part as a member) instead of being a passive follower and an opportunist. Turkey has seen the positive outcomes of this search by now. Recently I have analyzed this concept as “Politics at home, politics in the world: the evolution of politics in Turkish Foreign Policy” in an article of mine published in Mediterranean Quarterly (Winter, 2010).

Davutoğlu clearly said that Turkey desired to play its own role during decision processes in this respect. Davutoğlu: “We do not want a zone of the Cold War and its psychology near us again. We do not feel any threat from our neighbors.” He uttered these statements in China, which is a possible target of missile shield.  

These closer relations between Turkey and China due to the agenda of missile shield, remind the fact that there will be an atmosphere which will gradually make anti-cold war societies or countries in the world closer. Indeed, the new politics in the world prioritizes giving this fact credit.

EXPO, Davutoğlu’s reason to be in China, is based on the idea and fact of the dependencies of world cities on each other despite their countries’ politics. The theme of EXPO in Shanghai was decided as “Better city- better life”. The development and certain life quality of cities, take them to a parallel efficiency and dependency in spite of their own countries. It is predestined that for urbanization countries open up to the outside world and fit their systems into this opening.

Like Turkey, China is also obliged to expand more and to become integrated with the world as urbanization comes to a certain level. In that sense, because of high population in the country urbanization in China can make its presence felt on the whole world. In comparison to England, France, and the Netherlands -which have low population- where urbanization took 80-120 years (for instance, an increase from 17,9 percent to 39,1 percent), urbanization in China just took 22 years.

This high rate is an advantage for China in terms of labor. However, urbanized population makes its demands –which are not felt instantly due to rapid urbanization- felt in a short time and China is gradually losing its quality of being the cheapest labor market in the world. Since, at this level of urbanization, we see a rise in service sector and  labor division based on educational background, and the rise of middle class; therefore China is strongly connected to the world as a consumer market besides as a productive power.

China is aware of the fact that its labor reserve is not merely a financial advantage which will render China more powerful in the world; because the holders of this labor are becoming citizens who will demand a better life.

Turkey has been through all political and social outcomes of the similar urbanization process although it is on a small scale. And Turkey has a number of advantages if it observes China closely.

With its new foreign policy concept, Turkey has also a vision not to waste this process with the threats and ideological analyses of others.

(Published on Yeni Şafak [newspaper] on November 11, 2010).