Strategic intelligence and its impacts on Turkish foreign policy

Intelligence activities consist of a cyclical process with unique methods and motives. With the beginning of the Cold War, intelligence activities has gained relative importance in inter-state relations compared to previous eras. Another effect of the Cold War on the field of intelligence is its professionalization. Professionalized intelligence has come out as a field of science. Pioneered by Sherman Kent, the concept of strategic intelligence was the first step leading to the research on the utilization of intelligence within the foreign policies of states. In order to pursue an efficient foreign policy, states should benefit from strategic intelligence at the utmost level possible as the pursuance of foreign policy harmonized with the concept of strategic intelligence, gaining importance for states in today?s World, will be crucial for extending the countres? influence within the international system. Nevertheless, it is not possible to say that Turkish foreign policy is harmonized and pursued with the concept of strategic intelligence. If frankly put, no traces of the concept of strategic intelligence can be found within Turkish foreign policy. Turkish Republic, aiming to reach a more effective level in the international system in the future, should place adequate importance to the concept of strategic influence within its foreign policy. Within this context, it is an undeniable fact that determining its foreign policy understanding by harmonizing it with the significance attached to the concept of strategic influence will play a key role in Turkish Republic?s aim to reach a more effective level in the international system.