Talk with Ahmet Davutoğlu

Ahmet Davutoğlu is a Turkish academic, politician, and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from August 2014 to May 2016. Born on February 26, 1959, in Taşkent, Konya Province, Turkey, he is known for his expertise in international relations and has had a significant influence on Turkey's foreign policy.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Davutoğlu was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2014 under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He was a member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and was considered one of the key strategists behind Turkey's foreign policy orientation during his tenure. His approach to foreign policy, often referred to as "strategic depth," aimed at increasing Turkey's influence in its region and beyond, advocating for more active engagement with neighboring countries and regions.

Davutoğlu's prime ministership was marked by significant political challenges, including issues related to freedom of the press, domestic policies, and ongoing conflicts in neighboring Syria. His term also witnessed unrest related to the Gezi Park protests and conflicts with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

In 2016, Davutoğlu resigned from his position as Prime Minister following disagreements with President Erdoğan and the AKP leadership's direction. He later founded the Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) in December 2019, positioning it as an alternative to the AKP and criticizing the government's approach to democracy and governance.

Ahmet Davutoğlu, during his tenure as Turkey's Foreign Minister and later as Prime Minister, played a significant role in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis. Under his leadership, Turkey adopted an "open door" policy for Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict in their country. This policy was put into effect early in the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011.

Davutoğlu's approach involved providing humanitarian aid and refuge to those escaping the violence in Syria. Turkey set up numerous refugee camps along its border and offered various forms of assistance, including healthcare and education services for Syrian refugees. By doing so, Turkey became one of the largest host countries for Syrian refugees, with millions benefiting from its refugee policies.

Moreover, Davutoğlu advocated internationally for a comprehensive response to the crisis, emphasizing the need for global responsibility-sharing. He actively sought international support and funding to help manage the refugee influx, which was placing a considerable strain on Turkish resources.

His policies and the stance of the Turkish government during this period highlighted a humanitarian approach, despite the complex geopolitical and domestic challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in Syria and the massive inflow of refugees.

Ahmet Davutoğlu resigned from his position as Prime Minister of Turkey on May 22, 2016. His resignation stemmed from a series of disagreements and strained relations with the then President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. These disagreements were largely over issues of power sharing and governance, including differences in policy and the handling of key appointments within the state apparatus.

Erdoğan favored a strong presidential system, seeking greater control and centralization of power, a shift that clashed with Davutoğlu's vision and approach, which involved a more consultative and party-driven decision-making process. Additionally, there were reports and speculation about Davutoğlu being unhappy with how the presidency was managing the judiciary and media freedom, which might have exacerbated the tensions leading up to his resignation.

Davutoğlu's departure marked a significant shift in Turkish politics, paving the way for a consolidation of power under Erdoğan and the implementation of a presidential system following a constitutional referendum in 2017.

Ahmet Davutoğlu significantly influenced Turkey's foreign relations both as the Foreign Minister from 2009 to 2014, and as the Prime Minister from 2014 to 2016. He was an academic and an expert in international relations, and his diplomatic philosophy was initially based on the concept of "zero problems with neighbors." This policy aimed to improve Turkey's relations with all its neighbors through economic integration and resolving outstanding disputes.

Under his tenure as Foreign Minister, Turkey pursued active diplomatic engagements within its region — the Middle East, the Caucasus, and the Balkans — aiming for increased influence and mediation in regional conflicts. For example, Turkey attempted to mediate between Syria and Israel in 2008, and Davutoğlu personally was involved in efforts to resolve conflicts in Bosnia, Egypt, and Syria.

However, the "Arab Spring" revolutions in 2011 significantly impacted his strategies. With the rise of political Islam in various Arab nations, Turkey, under Davutoğlu's guidance, saw an opportunity to expand its influence by supporting like-minded political entities, notably the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. This move, however, led to strained relations with certain regimes, notably after the military overthrow of the Brotherhood in Egypt in 2013.

Davutoğlu's policies also included seeking a balance between East and West, trying to gain EU membership while deepening relations with Eastern powers like Russia and Iran. However, some of his ambitious policies led to complications, such as the downing of a Russian aircraft in 2015, which resulted in a severe, albeit temporary, deterioration of Turkish-Russian relations.

The growing instability in Syria also posed a significant challenge, with Turkey taking an active role against the Assad regime—a stance that significantly shaped its foreign policy during and after Davutoğlu's tenure and led to a complex relationship with other involved powers like the USA, Russia, and Iran. Also, the refugee crisis resulting from the Syrian war required sensitive diplomatic handling as Turkey became one of the largest hosts of Syrian refugees.

Overall, Ahmet Davutoğlu's approach initially sought to harness soft power and diplomacy to position Turkey as a leader in the region. Over time, regional instability led to Turkey adopting a more assertive and sometimes military-involved stance, reflecting a significant shift from his initial policies. Despite this, his era very much set the stage for the current geopolitical intricacies involving Turkey in regional and international politics.

Ahmet Davutoğlu, as a prominent Turkish politician and academic, is known for several accomplishments, particularly during his tenure as Turkey's Foreign Minister and later as Prime Minister. Some of the achievements that he might be most proud of include:

1. Foreign Policy Strategy: Davutoğlu was the architect of the "zero problems with neighbors" policy, which aimed to strengthen diplomatic relations and resolve tensions with all of Turkey's neighboring countries. This policy initially led to improved relationships with several countries in the region.

2. Mediation Roles: Under his guidance, Turkey took on significant mediation roles between conflicting parties in the Middle East and beyond, reflecting his vision of Turkey as a central power in global politics.

3. EU Accession Talks: During his term as Foreign Minister, Turkey continued its negotiations for accession to the European Union, marking significant progress in aligning with EU standards and regulations.

4. Humanitarian Efforts: Davutoğlu emphasized Turkey's role in humanitarian efforts, especially during the Syrian refugee crisis, advocating for and facilitating substantial aid and refuge to millions of displaced Syrians.

5. Economic Stability and Growth: During his term as Prime Minister, despite various challenges, Turkey experienced periods of economic growth and stability, which he associated with his government’s economic policies.

These points reflect some of the areas where Ahmet Davutoğlu might feel a sense of pride in his contributions to Turkey’s domestic and international policies.

Ahmet Davutoğlu's entry into politics was influenced by his academic background and his expertise in international relations, as well as his close association with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its leaders. Before entering formal politics, Davutoğlu was a professor of international relations at various universities and authored several influential books on strategic depth and foreign policy.

His political career began more prominently when he was appointed as Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister and subsequently as the Foreign Minister in 2009 under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His strategic vision for Turkey's role in the global arena, particularly his "zero problems with neighbours" policy, was aligned with the AKP's foreign policy objectives at that time.

Davutoğlu's deep involvement in shaping and implementing foreign policy drew him closer to core political decision-making, leading to his rise within the party and his eventual position as Prime Minister of Turkey from 2014 to 2016. His academic insight, combined with his active and pragmatic approach to diplomacy and governance, positioned him as a significant figure in Turkish politics.

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