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This article argues that there is a close relationship
between the structure of the international system/order and how states define
their foreign policy interests and then
act accordingly. The main contention is that Turkey's foreign policy
performance since 2002 can be partially read as Turkey's effort to adapt to
external developments at international and regional levels. As the
international system has evolved from a unipolar order (in which the United
States, in cooperation with its European allies, provided the main public goods
in an hegemonic fashion), into a post-unipolar era, Turkey has accelerated its efforts
to pursue a more multi-dimensional and multi-directional foreign approach. Rather
than arguing that there is a direct causation between the independent variable
of systemic factors and the dependent variable of Turkey's foreign policy
performance, this article understands the external environment as a 'context'
in which Turkish decision makers have responded to Turkey's responses to
foreign policy issues.