Securitization of History and Geography: Understanding of Security in Turkey

Although Turkey possesses the second biggest army in NATO, it lives in a perennial 'insecurity complex'. It is a securitized country where 'security', in its wider definition, reigns supreme in societal and political development, and overrides most other considerations. In a sense, both the Republic of Turkey and Turkish society are historical creations of a very wide definition of security, which evolved from and is affected by historical experiences. Turkey's location, too, provides benefits and vulnerabilities at the same time. Finally, the preoccupation with security has much to do with the role played by the armed forces in the country's political tradition. Accordingly, this article reviews the historical and geopolitical contexts of Turkish security; the role of its armed forces and the effects of the systemic changes; and evaluates the changing security conceptualization in Turkey after the end of the Cold War.