Book Unpacks Balkans’ ‘Love-Hate’ Relationship With Turkey

Author Ahmet Erdi Ozturk is a young associated professor of politics and international relations and Marie Curie Fellow at Coventry University and London Metropolitan University.

Although the book has only been published very recently by Edinburgh University Press, it is already being touted as an important addition to Turkey-Balkan studies.

"This eloquently written study is an important contribution to the understanding of contemporary Turkey and the Balkans," said Florian Bieber, Balkans expert and Director of the Centre for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz.

It offers "important insight into how Turkey under the AKP [Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party] is influencing societies and politics across the Balkans," he added.

Ozturk told BIRN that his latest book has two main important aspects.

"First, the book analyses Turkey's activities in the region from the late Ottoman era until nowadays, using Albania, Bulgaria and North Macedonia as case studies. This is related to area studies and understanding the modern politics and international relations," he said.

"Second, the book tells how the religion is being used in Turkey's changing and transforming activities and how it has become a determinant factor in Turkey-Balkan relations," Ozturk added.

"The book explains religion, identity and power politics in state relations through Turkey and the Balkans, and beyond that it explains what religion, identity and power mean for the modern state via the use of Turkey and the Balkans as a testing ground," he went on.

Return to its old stamping ground Ahmet Erdi Ozturk. Photo: Personal Archive

Ozturk said he started to research for his book in 2014 and at the time...