Turkish Geoeconomics and Its Influence in Albania

Abstract

Geopolitics is often used in reference to the use of geography in determining and shaping the international relations/foreign policy agenda of individual nation states. According to the proponents of the concept of geopolitics, political predominance in the international political system is not just a question of the general power and human resources at a country's disposal, but also of the geographical undertones within which a particular country exercises its available chunks of power. The rise of geoeconomics as an eminent replacement to geopolitics even becomes more significant in place of Turkey owing to its geopolitical position. The country is strategically surrounded by Europe, Asia, the Middle East and former Soviet states. The dynamics provided by the geopolitical position Turkey ushered in increased calls for the country to take up an active role in its foreign policy endeavors, and with it, a utilization of geoeconomics as a formidable strategy to push for Turkey's agenda in the Balkan region, especially Albania. Based on the geoeconomic and geocultural conception of the Balkan region, Davutoglu, the architect of new Turkish foreign policy, contents that the only way Balkan states can maintain their strategic importance is by reestablishing their success through intensive political dialogues and pursuing integrated economic policies. These are the endeavors of a country keen on utilizing economic values and principles to cement its political power in the Balkan region, and supplement its political influence over Albanian territories.