The analysis of turkish decision making process within the context of the Transatlantic security conflict: The example of 1 March reconciliation

Cold War, which started as a result of struggle between two ideologically rival polarities as United States of America (USA) and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), witnessed the birth of two big defense organizations. NATO, established in 1949 under the leadership of USA, was the triumphant of Cold War period and prevailed after Cold War as opposed to Warsaw Pact, which was established in 1955 under the leadership of USSR. After Cold War, NATO, many of Western European states and Turkey were its members, gained new roles due to new threat perceptions and enlarged with new members that turned once a defense organization into a security organization.After the Cold War period, the dependency of EU member states on USA lessened. They aimed to be more active/influential in the international system by combining/complementing their economic power with the realms of foreign policy and security. Hence, they transformed Western European Union, which was established in order to strengthen European leg/branch of NATO during Cold War, to ESPI. Therefore, a new security structure was established in Europe.This new structure induced USA, the founder and leader of NATO, to serious hesitations and confusions. In addition, USA changed her national security policy after 9/11 attacks and tried to use NATO in accordance with her interest. However, some EU member states reacted to this effort and as a result of the fraction and discrepancy emerged during the Iraq War led to indicate its deepened influence on NATO.Turkey during the Iraq War has been positioned with the side of France and Germany. In this thesis, the influence of the trans-Atlantic security rifle which enforce the transformation on USA foreign policy on decision-making process of Turkey within the context of 1 March reconciliation has been analyzed.I would like to thank to my precious advisor Associate Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin İnaç for his intellectual efforts as the leading figure and my friend Serdar Ülbayi for his contribution and lastly, my father and mother Yusuf and Saniye Güngör for their sacrifices and lovely supports, during the writing of this thesis.Keywords: Cold war, Decision making, European Security and Defence Policies, NATO, Reconciliation.