The Turkic world in the influence of changing geopolitical developments and regional conflicts: Case of Fergana Basin

This study is based on the problems of the Fergana Basin, which has been and continues to be the scene of important struggles in every period of history, and the effects thereof on the Turkic World.Located in the center of Turkestan, the Fergana Basin is administered by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in a politically divided manner. An area of significant geographical fertility, the Basin is located at the intersection of Asian and European transport routes and the geostrategic, geoeconomic and geocultural connections of Eurasia. In addition, the Fergana Basin has been home to many Turkish states since the early periods of history as it is more fortified against external dangers than other areas of Turkestan. Therefore, the Fergana Basin as a whole has contributed to the history and culture of both the region and the states of the Turkic World. The advantages of the Fergana Basin cause the field to become the center of close conflict. Many issues in the area such as border problems, economic problems, ethnic problems, management of water resources, terrorism, and drug trafficking directly affect the Turkic World. The study firstly examines the general geographical features of the Fergana Basin and discusses the political structure before and after the 19th century. Then, it evaluates the conflicts in the Fergana Basin, focusing on how they have affected the Turkic World. Accordingly, it has been observed that majority of the problems in the area stem from the policies of the USSR era, and today, the Fergana Basin is under the influence of great powers due to its geopolitical importance. Therefore, through the example of the Fergana Basin, an attempt has been made to introduce solutions to reduce the conflicts among the states in the area for the future of the Turkic World.