Kinship and Disporas in Turkish Foreign Policy: Examples from Europe, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean

The document analyzes the relationship between the Turkish government under the AKP and the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, Greece. It argues that Turkish policy shifted from a pro-Western, democratic approach in the early 2000s to a nationalist project that views the minority as a political tool for regional hegemony. This shift is linked to the 'Strategic Depth' ideology of Ahmet Davutoğlu and the domestic political needs of the AKP, leading to increased tensions with Greece, particularly after the 2016 coup attempt.

• The AKP's foreign policy toward the Muslim minority in Greece transitioned from an early phase of rapprochement, influenced by Turkey's EU candidacy, to a nationalist project that utilizes 'kin-state ideology' to expand regional influence.
• The 'geographical imagination' of the AKP, heavily influenced by Ahmet Davutoğlu's book 'Strategic Depth', views former Ottoman populations in the Balkans as a foundation for Turkey's regional policy and a means to exploit the Ottoman legacy politically and economically.
• The status of the Mufti of Western Thrace remains a central point of contention, with Turkey advocating for the right of the minority to elect their own religious leaders, while the Greek government has historically appointed them.
• Bilateral relations and the treatment of minorities have historically been governed by a principle of reciprocity, meaning the status of the Muslim minority in Greece often reflects the current state of Greek-Turkish diplomatic relations.
• Following the July 2016 putsch attempt, tensions escalated as Greece refused to extradite military officers seeking asylum, leading to more aggressive rhetoric from President Erdoğan, including references to the 'National Pact' (Misak-ı Milli) and the reconquest of lost territories.
• Despite the escalation in political rhetoric, the author suggests Turkey may be unwilling to jeopardize economic ties and infrastructure projects—such as a border bridge and high-speed train connection—for tighter control over the kin minority.

APA

Christofis, N. (2019). Kinship and Disporas in Turkish Foreign Policy: Examples from Europe, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%205%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Justice%20and%20Development%20Government%20vis-%C3%A0-vis%20The%20Muslim%20Minority%20in%20Greece%20by%20Nikos%20Christofis.pdf

Chicago

Christofis, Nikos. Kinship and Disporas in Turkish Foreign Policy: Examples from Europe, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2019. https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%205%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Justice%20and%20Development%20Government%20vis-%C3%A0-vis%20The%20Muslim%20Minority%20in%20Greece%20by%20Nikos%20Christofis.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Christofis |first1=Nikos |title=Kinship and Disporas in Turkish Foreign Policy: Examples from Europe, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2019 |url=https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%205%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Justice%20and%20Development%20Government%20vis-%C3%A0-vis%20The%20Muslim%20Minority%20in%20Greece%20by%20Nikos%20Christofis.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{christofis2019kinship, author = {Christofis, Nikos}, title = {{Kinship and Disporas in Turkish Foreign Policy: Examples from Europe, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2019}, url = {https://files.prio.org/Publication_files/Cyprus/KinshipsAndDiasporas/CHAPTER%205%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20Justice%20and%20Development%20Government%20vis-%C3%A0-vis%20The%20Muslim%20Minority%20in%20Greece%20by%20Nikos%20Christofis.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }