ULUSLARARASI GÜVENLİK

In international politics, balance of power refers to a condition in which no one state predominates over others, tending to create general equilibrium and curb the hegemonic ambitions of all states. States may balance in several ways. When states attempt to balance threats by an increase of their national capabilities, this is called internal balancing. Alternatively, when they try to balance against a prevailing threat by the establishment of informal or formal alliances with other states, this is known as external balancing (Grieco, 1997: 160). Through internal and external efforts, a state can either increase its own capacity or impair that of its rival. While the former is called positive balancing, the latter is negative balancing (Steff and Khoo, 2014: 2227-228).

Bandwagoning refers to aligning with or joining the powerful actor toward protecting itself from fear and attack, even if this means insecurity and a certain sacrifice from its independence (Schroeder, 1994; Vasquez and Elman, 2003; Walt, 1987: 21; Mearsheimer, 2001). In fact one can differentiate between two types of bandwagoning: defensive and offensive. In defensive bandwagoning, which is a form of appeasement, a state aligns with a threatening power to avoid being attacked. Offensive bandwagoning is alignment with a dominant state for the payoffs

A defense pact requires its signatories to intervene with military force on behalf of any alliance partner(s) engaged in armed hostilities. The signatories to the defense pact determine the threats in the treaty and concretely prepare to respond to it together. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the most frequently cited example of a defense pact. The Warsaw Pact was also a defense pact between the Soviet Union and seven other communist states during the Cold War. After it was dissolved in 1991, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was established in 1992 as a defense pact among Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

An alliance contributes to the balance of power in a given setting. A formal military alliance usually has the purpose of collective defense. Alliances help contain potential rivals. Alliances provide the means to keep the allies under control. Alliances enhance the military power of its members.

A number of scholars question the validity of balance of power, since it ignores the perceptions of actors in balancing and forming alliances (Christensen, 1997: 81). For example, Stephen Walt questions the theory of balance of power on the grounds that the threat a state perceives is the most important driving factor for the balancing behavior. In other words, Walt suggest that states balance against threat, rather than against power. As such, Walt presents another theory of alliance: the balance of threat.

The Cold War is assumed to have begun with the famous Iron Curtain speech by Winston Churchill on March 5, 1946. Churchill said that “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.” The Cold War lasted more than four decades and ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 (Kolasi, 2013: 153). The most distinctive feature of the Cold War was the ideological struggle between the liberal Western Alliance and the socialist Eastern Alliance. The Western-Alliance nations came together under the NATO umbrella, whereas the Eastern Alliance formed the Warsaw Pact in 1955.

NATO is committed to the principle that an attack against one or several of its members is considered as an attack against all. This is the principle of collective defense, which is enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. So far, Article 5 has been invoked once - in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001 (NATO Press Conference, 2001).

“The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the principal political decision-making body at NATO. Each member country has a seat at the NAC. The Council meets at least once a week or whenever the need arises, at different levels. Meetings are chaired by the Secretary General who helps members reach agreement on key issues.” The Council also meets from time to time at the level of Heads of State and Heads of Government or Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Defense.

Although the above-mentioned developments are some examples of support that NATO provided, it is a fact that NATO and some leading NATO countries also failed to provide Turkey with support especially on such issues as combatting terrorism, developing the military infrastructure, and giving military supplies.

“Cyber threats and attacks are becoming more common, sophisticated and damaging. The Alliance is faced with an evolving complex threat environment. NATO needs to be prepared to defend its networks and operations against the growing sophistication of the cyber threats and attacks it faces. NATO’s main focus in cyber defense is to protect its own networks (including operations and missions) and enhance resilience across the Alliance.

Balance of power refers to a condition in which no one state predominates over others. Therefore, the correct choice is A.

Soft balancing suggests the use of diplomatic and cultural means by the states. Therefore, the correct choice is E.

Leaders of the Third World countries seek alliances to counter both internal and external threats to their rule. Therefore, the correct choice is D.

The principal goal of alliances is to ensure political sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security on the basis of collective military defence. Therefore, the correct choice is B.

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during World War II is an example of a non-aggression treaty. Therefore, the correct choice is C.

A structured collaboration between states to take joint advantage of economic opportunities or to respond to security challenges more effectively is called strategic partnership. Therefore, the correct choice is B.

North Atlantic Treaty, which is also referred to as the Washington Treaty, was founded in 1949. Therefore, the correct choice is A.

Turkey became a full member in 1952. Therefore, the correct choice is E.

Military operations are carried out under the collective defense clause of NATO’s founding treaty - Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Therefore, the  correct choice is D.

Article 5 has been invoked once - in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001. Therefore, the correct choice is C.