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From Honeymoon to Headaches: Turkish-American Relations During the Cold War

Lesar Yurtsever

Kommentar

From Honeymoon to Headaches: Turkish-American Relations During the Cold War On October 9, 2019, President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding Turkey's intervention in Syria against Kurdish forces without U.S. approval "Let's work out a good deal! You don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy!" This statement underscores the enduring asymmetry in U.S.-Turkish relations since the Cold War– “Comply, or face consequences”. This course explores how Turkey has navigated its dual role as a “natural ally” of the United States and an independent regional actor with its own strategic ambitions during the Cold War. By examining key moments from 1945 to 1990, such as the partnership during the Korean War (1950-53) or the conflicts during the Cyprus crisis (1963/64), the seminar highlights how Turkey strategically employed concepts of Westernism and Nationalism to negotiate its position during these events. Students will evaluate primary and secondary sources to critically assess U.S.-Turkish relationship from multiple perspectives. They will develop essential skills in reading and analyzing academic texts, writing scholarly papers, and working as historians. Students will also gain a broader perspective on the Cold War, with a particular focus on Turkey as a central actor. To successfully complete the course, students are required to actively participate in class, engage with the weekly readings, and submit a weekly “reading reflection” (5-8 lines) on Blackboard (24 hours before each session), and take part in a fictional conference between representatives of both states. At the end of the term, eligible students will take an exam. Schließen

12 Termine

Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung

Mo, 10:00 - 12:00 12 Termine

Mo, 14.04.2025 10:00 - 12:00

Dozenten:
Lesar Yurtsever