Between the two worlds: Turkey’s repositioning in the global economy

Abstract

Turkey has demonstrated a unique ability to extend its integration to the global economy in horizontal and vertical axes while taking its own path to indigenous industrialisation as a means of navigating the uncharted waters of uncertainty since the latest financial crisis of 2008. Being named as one of the rising middle powers or a fragile emerging upper-middle-income economy, Turkey now faces a major challenge of repositioning itself between the two worlds, namely a world of mutual existence and dependence, and a world of disruption, renewed protectionism and finally rupture. The perspective of this chapter, therefore, displays first how Turkey has been caught in the middle of these two worlds and then argues that positioning itself once again as a mediator in a number of conflicting ideas, policies and even actions would otherwise be insufficient to further rise as a key player.