Contemporary Russo–Turkish Relations: From Crisis to Cooperation

The Syrian Civil War started in March 2011 and still continues. It causes death, turmoil, humanitarian crisis, and mass migration in the region. Numerous state and non-state actors are involved in this multi-sided armed conflict. On 24 November 2015, Turkey shoots down a Russian fighter jet on its border and this event becomes the turning point in Russo–Turkish relations. An economic and psychological war starts between Moscow and Ankara which damages their good relations existed before the crisis. Despite the crisis, the sides to the conflict understand that they need each other for their own benefits and look for reconciliation. Russia, a supporter of the Assad government in Syria, does not want to lose Turkey as a friend. Turkey, an energy partner of Russia, needs Russia to balance the power relations in the region. They are two neighboring countries with strong historical socio-economic ties that need to be restored. The reconciliation process is not easy and requires some third party role. The PYD/YPG-centered US policy in Syria affects Turkey’s strategies.

Table of Contents:
Foreword, by Stefan D. Brooks Acknowledgments Introduction, by Ali Askerov 1. A History of Russian-Turkish Relations: From the Ottoman Empire period to the end of the Soviet Era, by Ilyas Topsakal 2. Main Lines of Turkey-Russia Relations in the 2000s, by Cemre Pekcan 3. Contending Policies of Russia and Turkey: The Syrian Crisis, by Ali Askerov and Lasha Tchantouridze 4. Turkey–Russia Relations After the Shooting Down of a Russian Warplane, by Togrul Ismayil 5. Effects of US PYD/YPG Policy on Russo-Turkish Relations, by Ali Askerov, Sean Byrne, and Thomas Matyok 6. The Military-Strategic Dimensions of Turkey–Russian Relations, by Aydin Çetiner 7. The Black Sea Question in Russo-Turkish Relations, by Lasha Tchantouridze 8. Restrictions on a Possible Rapprochement between Turkey, Russia, and Iran, by Ibrahim Arslan 9. Central Asia at the Crossroads of Russian–Turkish Cooperation and Competition, by Kamala Valiyeva 10. The Turkish-Russian Relations in The Context of Energy Cooperation, by Tugce Varol 11. A Comparison of the EU Policies of Turkey and Russia, by Soner Karagül 12. A Proposal for Sustainable Peace in the Sykes-Picot Agreement’s Hundredth Year: the Middle East Peace and Stability Pact, by Ibrahim Arslan and Mithat Baydur 13. Social Dynamics of Modern Russian and Turkish Societies, by Abulfaz Suleymanov, Gali Galiev, and Chulpan Ildarhanova 14. The Future of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in the Context of Contemporary Developments, by Sergey A. Kizima 15. A Third Party Role in the Normalization of Russo-Turkish Relations, by Ali Askerov and Stefan D. Brooks Conclusion About the Author

About the Author :
Ali Askerov is assistant professor of peace studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Review :
"This is an excellent and insightful set of essays about the state of Russian-Turkish relations - where they have been and where they are headed during the 21st century.  It examines how the Turkish and Russian states are both cooperating and managing a full range of issue areas, some quite contentious. I highly recommend it" Michael Jackson, PhD, Senior Instructor, Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont, Northfield, VT. This is a very useful and timely volume looking at the various issues at play in contemporary Russian-Turkish relations. The essays in this collection look at the issues and the areas that shape current Russia and Turkey interactions with each other over the past few decades. The various cases these essays address give us a refreshing look into the relationship between Russia and Turkey during the leadership of Putin and Erdogan.  Students of International Relations and Comparative Politics whose focus is either Russia or Turkey will find many things to value here.  Clifford A. Bates, Jr. PhD University Professor Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland The Syrian Civil War started in March 2011 and still continues. It causes death, turmoil, humanitarian crisis, and mass migration in the region. Numerous state and non-state actors are involved in this multi-sided armed conflict. On 24 November 2015, Turkey shoots down a Russian fighter jet on its border and this event becomes the turning point in Russo–Turkish relations. An economic and psychological war starts between Moscow and Ankara which damages the good relations they enjoyed before the incident. Despite the crisis, the sides to the conflict understand they need each other for their own benefits and look for reconciliation. Russia, a supporter of the Assad government in Syria, does not want to lose Turkey as a friend. Turkey, an energy partner of Russia, needs Russia to balance the power relations in the region. They are two neighboring countries with strong historical socio-economic ties that need to be restored. The reconciliation process is not easy and requires some involvement by third party actors. The editor has brought together a group of foremost experts who provide an excellent overview and incisive analyses and assessments on contemporary Russo-Turkish relations. The contributing authors do a marvelous job explicating the complexities of the bilateral relations in a penetrating fashion in the local, regional, and international settings. This book is a must read for anyone who wishes to gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of these two crucial actors in the Middle East. Seung-Ho Joo Professor of Political Science, The University of Minnesota-Morris