T-BRICS
Turkey, a shining star with its secular and democratic structure, which can represent the continent of Europe and Asia, which is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, by adding itself into the BRICS countries as a new representative, and thus forming up T-BRICS, could create a new challenge to the global dominance of the USA and the EU. It may also lead to have a balancing power and thus emergence of a new global alternative system.
My article has been previously published at Istanbul Kultur University, GPOT Center (Global Political Trends Center), Policy Summary: No: 67, publication, in 2019, that was about a comparision of the indices on global peace, economy, freedom of press, rules of law, human development of the BRICS countries, and Turkey.
I am sharing the article's link to the ones that are curious about the situation of Turkey and BRICS countries in all indices and the details of the comparative analysis.
As it is known, BRICS (Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) consists of the countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, each of which is a regional power. All but South Africa are also members of the G-20. This association was established in June 2006. BRIC, which was initially known as a group of 4, took its final form (BRICS) with the addition of South Africa in 2010.
Turning its direction to the West since the 1950s, Turkey, on the other hand, has always been integrated with the West in economic, political and security policies, and entered NATO in 1952 prior to many Western countries. The North Atlantic alliance, which immediately incorporated Turkey when it came to security, did not show the same support for Turkey when it came to economics. Turkey's EU membership process, just like NATO membership, dates back to that of many current members, but negotiations do not yield any results.
Let's get back to our topic. When the data is analyzed, Turkey in the last 20 years; has taken many important steps in infrastructure investments, health, education, tourism and humanitarian aid and has increased its human development. On the other hand, global peace, freedom of the press, the rule of law, and especially since 2016, the GDP, which is the most important indicator of economic size, has displayed a worsening performance.
In order for Turkey to increase its power, to meet its 2023, 2053 and 2071 targets and gain a better place in the world political scene, it needs to be able to maintain the issues it has developed, and to take measures to correct the worsening ones.
After the 2018 elections, Turkey's transition to the presidential system and the acceleration of the decision-making process led to comments that would accelerate Turkey's progress towards becoming a great power in the near future. However, this acceleration could only be achievable and would be directly proportional, if the full separation of powers be done, together with expansion of freedom, rule of law, justice and some other rights which would mamek more effective the democracy and its institutions and organizations, in Turkey.
Turkey is going through a difficult period in its relations with both the USA and the European Union, especially in the last period, and now it is somewhat isolated. This political process, which is not friendly and incompatible with alliance, may pave the way for Turkey to act more together with the BRICS countries in the upcoming future.
Turkey can show its will to be included in this group without giving up its NATO membership and EU membership process, by citing the inconsistent and unallied policies of the USA, especially after the election of Trump and later Biden, and the inconclusive EU full membership process.
And then, this union, which can be renamed as T-BRICS, will have much more impact on the world.
Turkey, a shining star with its secular and democratic structure, which can represent the continent of Europe and Asia, which is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, by adding itself into the BRICS countries as a new representative, and thus forming up T-BRICS, could create a new challenge to the global dominance of the USA and the EU. It may also lead to have a balancing power and thus emergence of a new global alternative system.
