Why Welcome Al Basheer? Contextualizing Turkey’s Darfur Policy

This study analyses the underlying elements of the Muslim world’s reaction toward the Darfur crisis by critically evaluating Turkey’s involvement. Turkey is important because it has been cited as a rising star of 21st century in the Muslim world not only for its growing economic potential and deepening democratic credentials, but also with its recent pro-active diplomatic initiatives in conflict areas such as in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caucasus.

Turkey’s Darfur policy has been one of its most criticized in recent times. Although the criticisms leveled against this policy have some merit, they do not provide much insight into the motivations behind Turkey’s approach to Darfur. Thus, Ankara’s distinctive approach to Darfur and Khartoum requires a thorough, in-depth analysis within the context of Turkey’s changing role in regional and global affairs. It is argued that on the Darfur issue, Turkish policy has been characterized by convergence and distinction from the official position of the Muslim-Arab world.

We argue that the Turkish approach to Darfur has been mainly shaped by three elements: the international environment/discourse on “the war on terror” since 2002; Turkey’s recently deepening political and economic engagement with the Arab world and Africa; and Ankara’s search for a new political “language” on Darfur, a middle ground between the West’s claims of “genocide” and defending al Basheer. In sum, Turkey’s Darfur policy can be described as an example of “passive quiet diplomacy” in a highly complex international environment.