Religion as a Strategic Leverage against the 'Desired "Other”': The Uses of Religion in the Turkish-EU Relations in the AKP Era

The rise to power of the pro-Islamic Justice and Development Party (A.K.P.) intensified the use of the religious identity in the international affairs by Turkey. Ankara’s new strategic doctrine demands an optimal use of power factors related to civilization (soft power), especially in the contacts with the neighboring Muslim /Arab states, in order to strengthen its international position. Contrary to secular governments of 1990s, the new leadership cares little to hide its Islamic identity in its interactions with the West. The AKP leadership makes an instrumental use of the religious identity particularly in its contact with Europe. The posture adopted against western institutions, to which Ankara is candidate to adhere to, is revealing of its policy to use religion as a diplomatic leverage in order to obtain strategic gains not only in bi/multilateral level, but also in international level.