Turkey's security in the 20th and 21st century

Abstract

The Modem Turkish state has been created since 1923. After the First World War, the Ottoman Empire collapsed and has been actually divided between foreign powers. According to Sevres Treaty, its territories were to remain under control of powers that won the previous conflict, and the Turkish state was to be reduced to Istanbul and its surroundings. However, due to the Turkish Independence War, led mainly by Mustafa Kemal, and later Ataturk, Turks managed to successfully defeat opponents and create, according to Lausanne Treaty, the Turkish Republic. This new state has several internal and external problems, and a so-called security issue was one of them. The debate about internal and external security has become a vital part of the country's political life. This paper aims to explain the main features of this debate and to describe how security has been perceived in Turkey during the Cold War and afterwards.