POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ASPECTS OF TURKEY\'S PRESENCE IN BIH SINCE 2003

Lazić Vuk (Autor je student na master programu „Međunarodna politika“ na Fakultetu političkih nauka, Univerzitet u Beogradu),

Continuous strengthening of Turkey along with the changed global circumstances caused by the end of the Cold War has created the possibility of determining a comprehensive and relatively independent state strategies, embodied in the concept of neo-Ottomanism. The region of the Balkans has a great significance in this strategy, with a special emphasis on the geopolitical space of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since the coming to power of the AKP, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, new impulses are visible in the direction of strengthening the political, economic, security and cultural aspects of the Turkish presence in BiH. The implementation of the concept of neo-Ottomanism in the territory of BiH is largely directed at protecting the interests of the Muslim factor, and often against the interests of the other two nations. Political influence is the most dominant part of the Turkish presence, while economic and cultural are marked by some strengthening. On the other hand, since the beginning of the civil war (1992–1995), the impact on the Muslim factor, but also the entire territory of BiH, apart from Turkey, has Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are seeking to strengthen their own influence and geopolitical strategies in this area.

Keywords: Turkey, neo-Ottomanism, Bosnia and Herzegovina