Soloviova E. Turkey's foreign policy strategy in Central Asia (during the period of the AKP's rule).

In this dissertation, a comprehensive study of Turkey's policy towards Central Asia under the rule of the Justice and Development Party was carried out. It has been analyzed what place Central Asia occupies in Turkey's modern foreign policy priorities. In particular, the study examines the significant influence of Turkey's political culture on the country's foreign policy. Focusing on the interplay between Turkey's traditional political culture, characterized by secularism and decentralized power, and the strategic approach of the AKP, the study highlights how the latter preserves core Kemalist values while incorporating elements of Turkish-Islamic culture. The emergence of the AKP led to a redefinition of traditional secularism as "Islamic secularism", which sees secularism as a limitation of the state rather than individuals. The study establishes a connection between Turkey's domestic political dynamics and its foreign policy trajectory. At the initial stage (2002-2007), the adjustment strategy of the AKP led to a more restrained foreign policy position. It was established that at the initial stage, emphasizing its secular character, the AKP promoted cooperation with Euro-Atlantic structures, guided by the conviction that the adoption of Western democratic values will help solve Turkey's internal challenges and avoid conflicts with the military leadership inside the country. The dissertation emphasizes that it is the influence of the military that was mainly internal a factor due to which the AKP sought to demonstrate the harmonious coexistence of Islam and democracy, positioning Turkey as an example to follow in the Muslim world, while seeking EU membership as evidence of the compatibility of Islamic norms with democratic principles on the world stage.