I sent this to the Turkish publisher of PNM at their request yesterday. Their instructions to me were simply to pen something that related the book and Turkey's particular placement on the map to the Turkish reader. So I cranked out these almost 500 words "off the top of my head," a phrase that I now find quite deceptive given all the writing I do daily in the blog (i.e., nothing comes "off the top of my head" anymore, as I've just gotten all the pre-writing out of my system on so many topics that my "idle" is set so G.D. high that I'm ready to write at the drop of a hat—like asking someone who runs 10 miles a day to compete in a 5k!).
Here's what I wrote. My foreign-rights agent just loved it. I don’t know if it's that good or Esmond's opinion reflects how little effort other authors put into such things. Me, I consider it a real honor to be published in another language. Imagine the pride I will feel to hold this book in my hand!
Preface to the Turkish edition
It is with a sense of great privilege that I offer this book to the Turkish reader, and that is because there are few countries in the world destined to play a more pivotal role in the future unfolding of globalization than Turkey.
I am often asked, "Why is Turkey not included within your definition of globalization's Functioning Core?"
I included Turkey within my definition of globalization's Non-Integrating Gap, or those regions that are least connected to the global economy and therefore most at risk of mass violence and conflict, for three reasons. The first reason is sheer geography: Turkey is the literal land bridge between Europe and the regions of the Middle East and the Caucasus, and as such finds itself often buffeted by the latter pair's frequent bouts of instability since the end of the Cold War.
The second reason is that, while Turkey has long been a member of the NATO military alliance, it has been denied membership in the European Union (EU). Is that unfair? I believe it is, and yet this dichotomy reflects Turkey's status as what I describe as a Seam State, meaning a country located along the dividing line between globalization's Functioning Core and its Non-Integrating Gap. In effect, Europe is satisfied with keeping Turkey a military shield against the forces of instability inside the Gap, even as it has not yet seen fit to embrace Turkey as a fully-fledged member of its economic portion of the Core.
As a Seam State, Turkey is therefore easily described as belonging to both the Core and the Gap, so the third reason behind my ultimate choice to locate the country inside the Gap was this: I prefer to see the discussion about Turkey center on the question, "Why isn't Turkey in the Core?" rather than on the question, "How can Turkey be in the Core if it continues to be denied entry into the European Union?" I prefer the former question primarily because I believe that Europe's eventual decision to admit Turkey into the EU should serve as a precedent-setting example for much of the same self-interested logic that will inevitably drive the Core as a whole to seek the Islamic world's broad integration into the global economy. In short, I seek to highlight this historic process as much as possible, and I accomplish that best by highlighting Turkey's economic exclusion from the Core even after decades of belonging to its preeminent military alliance.
It is my sincere hope that Turkey will play the historic role I believe it must in showing how a modern, Islamic state can function as a stable pillar of globalization. If this book adds to such understanding within Turkish society and—by doing so—helps to motivate bold action and wise policies by its leaders in pursuit of this goal, then I will be most pleased by the honor of having my work published in the Turkish language.
Thomas P.M. Barnett
December 2004
| Permalink |
