Defenders of the faith: Islam as a determinant of Turkish foreign policy towards the Western Balkans

The main scientific objective of this proposed paper is to analyse and evaluate Turkey's recent activities in the Western Balkan countries (i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) taking the role of religion in Turkish foreign policy as a reference point. After the Justice and Development Party (tur. Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi - AKP) won parliamentary elections in 2002, Islam became one of the key factors in Turkish politics. By circumventing the constitutionally protected principle of secularism, the AKP government embedded its foreign policy doctrine with a strong religious and cultural component. Declaratively, the ultimate aim of Turkish authorities is to defend the interests of Muslim communities worldwide. In order to promote and promulgate this socio-political ideology, Turkey's diplomatic services and public diplomacy organisations (e.g. Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, Directorate of Religious Affairs) have been actively operating in neighbouring regions for two decades. Due to historical and ethnic circumstances, the Western Balkans have been an area of interest for the AKP from the very beginning of its rule, which, however, has so far not resulted in achieving significant political influence in the region by Turkey. Adopting a complex research perspective, this proposed paper seeks to identify religious determinants of Turkish foreign policy towards the Western Balkans. Although the AKP has strengthened Turkey's position in the region over the past twenty years, it still cannot be recognised as a regional power. Against this background, the paper attempts to answer the research question regarding the impact of Islam-related facets on effective implementation of Turkish strategic goals in the Western Balkans. Image theory in international relations was selected as the theoretical foundation for this study, as its research tools facilitate examination of foreign policy trends and directions by tracking political perceptions. Having employed available primary sources (official documents, public reports, interviews and speeches of leading AKP politicians) as well as literature on the subject (academic publications, policy briefs), the most decisive aspects that shape the religious dimension of Turkish foreign policy towards the Western Balkans were distinguished. Analysis of semi-structured expert interviews with relevant stakeholders from the Western Balkan countries (including think tank researchers, NGO activists, academics), conducted to measure local perceptions of Turkish involvement in the region, was also essential for this study. Through the use of qualitative research methods (e.g. content analysis, political discourse analysis, historical methods, process tracing method) this paper explores the functions of religion in political strategy of the AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. It concludes with an assessment of Turkey's policy initiatives in the Western Balkans to date and provides scenarios for further development of Turkish engagement with the region.