ESSAY WRITING

REALISM IN RUSSIA-TURKEY CONFLICT OVER

TURKEYS SHOOTING DOWN RUSSIAN FIGHTER JET

Oleh : Renata Kristi W.

NPM : 2015330079
Kelas : C
No. Ujian : 120

INTERNATIONAL REALTIONS DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
UNIVERSITAS KATOLIK PARAHYANGAN
BANDUNG
2015

ABSTRACT
This essay will discuss that the Realist theory is an accurate instrument for perceiving
the reasons behind the airspace conflict between Russia and Turkey that happened in
November 2015. Realism is able to clearly analyze using a realistic context of the incident.
The basic ideology of the Realist theory and its value will be evaluated and implemented in
analyzing the behavior of Russia and Turkey in terms of their current political problems.

INTRODUCTION

The world was shaken by the Turkish foreign ministers decision to shoot down the
Su-24, Russian warplane, which was reportedly crossing Turkeys airspace in the northern
Latakia Province, borderline of Syria-Turkey on November 24 th 2015. This action raised
uncertainty as both parties denied being at fault. While Turkey stated that they had given the
plane ten warnings to get out their airspace before downing it, Russian pilots insisted that
they did not receive any kind of warning and did not even cross the borderline. Turkeys act
was immensely brave considering that Russia has great nuclear power and high economic
influence upon Turkey. This action undoubtedly will bring consequences for Turkey.
Considering that this action was remarkably brave, the question regarding the reasons
Turkey shot down the Russian warplane has become the main topic for this paper. This
paper is written to analyze and explain the background that contributed to Turkeys action
using the theory of Realist, due to its sensibility in explaining a political states behavior in
fulfilling their interests. The background revolves around both Russia and Turkeys roles and
purposes in the Middle East conflict; as both parties have major interests in Syria. Russia has
been bombing the Syrian Turkmen in the north-west Syria mountainous area, which is a
serious concern for Turkey as the Syrian Turkmen support Turkeys effort to overthrow
Assad. Therefore, the borderline crossing issue became a trigger for Turkey to strike back at
Russia. This paper will further explain the detailed background on this Russia-Turkey
conflict.

The Application of the Realist Political Theory to

Russia-Turkey Conflict
Before discussing the application of the Realist theory to the Russia-Turkey airspace
conflict, it is necessary to briefly define the nature of Realism as a basic theory in
International Relations.
Use of Realism in Defining Russia-Turkey Airspace Issue
The theory of Realist provides an explanation rather than just an approach and also
gives a pragmatic structure analysis in regards to the study of International Relations. The
basic ideas of Realism are:
1. Viewing human nature in a pessimist way,
2. International relations are necessarily conflictual, and conflicts are resolved by
war,
3. National security and state survival are the vital points,
4. Skeptical about the progress in international politics, which is comparable to that
of domestic political life.1
The basic principle of Realism is applied to the background observation of both the Russian
and Turkish actions in the airspace conflict.
Following the explanation above, the discussion can now focus on the on-going conflict in
Syria, which is close to Russia and Turkey, both in terms of geography and interests. Realism
views that the state is the preeminent actor in world politics. International relations are
primarily relations of states. All other actors in world politicsindividual, international
organizations (IGOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), etc.are either far less
important or unimportant.2 The IGOs themselves are state-made on purpose so that their
policies would be convenient for the state. For example, in order to dominate Syria, Russia as
a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, vetoed the Security Council
resolution concerning ending the bloodshed caused by the Syrian regime. As a result, U.N.
help was hindered and the civil war has continued until now. Russias veto was based on not
only their close partnership with Syria but also as a payback to America and its NATO allies
1 Robert Jackson and Georg Sorensen, Introduction to International Relations:
Theories and Approaches Fifth Edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013),
p.66.
2 Ibid.
2

for what happened in Libya.3 In the case of Syria, instead of helping to remove Assad from
his position, Russia has supported Assads dictatorship despite knowing the circumstances in
the Syrian civil war.4 Russia made the process in the Security Council more difficult on
purpose in order to prevent the Damascus 5 regime from collapsing, which could have
destabilized Russias income from the Syrian purchase of Russian ammunition and arms.
Should Assad be forced to leave his throne, Russia will still try to maintain its commercial
and military interests in Syria.6 Realism views human nature pessimistically and
acknowledges the state as the only actor; it maintains that the state would not cooperate with
other actors without any meaning that does not give them profit (self-interest). In the case of
Syria, Russias main concern if the U.N. managed to overthrow Assad, is that it would
interfere with their ammunition and arms sales and supply to Syria. Syria is an important
strategic partner for Russia, especially in military matters since the Russian naval base in the
Mediterranean is located in Tartus, Syria.7 This fits the point of view of Realism:
The fact that all states must pursue their own national interest means that other
countries and governments can never be relied upon or completely trusted. All
international agreement are provisional and conditional on the willingness of states to
observe them. That makes treaties and all other agreements, conventions, customs,
rules, laws, and so on between states merely expedient agreements which can and will
be set aside if they conflict with the vital interests of states. 8

3 U.N. Security Council authorized a policyno flying over Libya as a prevention

for Gaddafis forces to attack the rebels. Russia and China abstained from the
U.N. Security Council due to their high influence of the Arab League. Later, NATO
shrewdly took over the implementation and assisted the rebels, which resulted
the collapsed of Gaddafis regime and affected big bad deals towards Russia,
especially in arms deals.
4 Judy Dempsey, Russia, Syria and The Arab Spring, Hampton Roads International
Security Quarterly, no.2 (2012): 1-2, accessed on March 9th 2016, 11:22 PM, retrieved
from http://search.proquest.com/docview/963497696?accountid=31495

5 The name of Bashar al-Assads regime.

6 Why Russia is standing by Syrias Assad, BBC News, accessed on 28
November 2015, retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe18462813
7 Yiftah Shapir and Zvi Magen, Bashar Assad is Flexing Muscles, INSS Insight, no.307
(2012): 2-3, accessed on March 10th 2016, 00:01 AM, retrieved from
http://www.inss.org.il/uploadimages/Import/%28FILE%291325661948.pdf

Aside from the economic aspect, the Russian position is accordant with Hans Morgenthau, a
realist, who says that politics is a struggle for power over men, and whatever its ultimate aim
may be, power is its immediate goal and the modes of acquiring, maintaining, and
demonstrating it determine the technique of political action. (Morgenthau 1965: 195)9 This
corresponds with what Ruslan Pukhov, a Russian defense analyst, has said about why Syria is
important for Russia.
"Syria is the only country in the Middle East which follows our advice, this is the
country where we can exercise certain tangible influence. Of course, the loss of Syria
will mean we will have no influence in this region at all. It has some symbolic value
for the Russian authorities and the foreign policy establishment as a sign of Russia as
a great power."

Other than that, Syrias geographic position is also profitable for Russia because of its
proximity with Iran. Moscow and Teheran have a close partnership in economic cooperation,
and share a similar hostility towards America as well as a common fear of al-Qaeda and the
Taliban.10 If the Damascus regime falls, there will be a big opportunity for America to
dominate Syria and isolate Iran from Russia. Therefore, preventing the overthrow of Assad
has become Russias main concern, since it would destroy Russias influence in the Middle
East and profit the West, which would threaten Russias power. This situation ensures that
Russia is doing its best to keep their sovereignty in Syria which, according to Realism theory
fits the prestige idea presented by E.H. Carr, If your strength is recognized, you can
generally achieve your aims without having to use it.11

8 Robert Jackson and Georg Sorensen, Introduction to International Relations:

Theories and Approaches Fifth Edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013),
p.67.
9 Ibid., p.66.
10 Mark N. Katz, Why Russia wont Play Ball on Iran, The Diplomat, June 23rd 2012,
accessed on November 28th 2015, retrieved from http://thediplomat.com/2012/06/whyrussia-wont-play-ball-on-iran/

11 Martin Wight, Power Politics 2nd Edition, edited by Hedley Bull and Carstaan
Holbraad (Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1995), p. 98.
4

ANALYSIS AND EXPLANATION UNIT

Background of Turkeys Action
for
Shooting Down Russian Jet
Turkeys act to shoot down the Russian jet was very astounding as this action was
risky for Turkeys economy, considering Russia is Turkeys second largest trading member
and provides Turkey with big income in the tourism sector.12 As a consequence of Turkeys
jet downing, Russia instituted economic sanctions including banning imports of Turkish food
supplies, sale of charter holidays, and firm construction projects in Russia without special
exemption.13 Other than economic losses, Turkey was also in danger of a Russian counter
attack with their strong fighting forces.
Despite these unsavory effects, Turkeys act was done in accordance with Realisms
normative core about the national security and state survival, which means that Turkey did
what it did to defend the states security interest. It is because Realism focuses on state power
politics first, setting aside harmonic relation with other states. Turkeys security action was

12 Lin Jenkins, Vladimir Putin announces Russian sanctions against Turkey, The
Guardian, November 28th 2015, accessed on March 11th 2016, retrieved from
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/28/vladimir-putin-calls-for-greatersanctions-against-turkey
13 Selin Girit, Turkey faces big losses as Russia sanctions bite, BBC News, January 2nd
2016, accessed on March 11, 2016, retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/worldeurope-35209987

actually also fortified by the fact that Russia would not want a war, being in its present
economic and complicated situation with its neighboring states.14
Also, in order to protect itself, Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet that had been bombing
Latakia in Syria, where Turkmen supporting fighters built their base camp. Turkey, also
despising Syrias regime, attempted to destroy it by making use of the organization of Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)s presence in Syria to overthrow Assad. Turkeys effort was
supported by the Turkmen in Syriaalso a prime opposition party to Assads regime--who
repeatedly had become the victim of Russian bombing in the name of fighting ISIS
Turkmen who lived in Latakiaa strategic province for launching an attack on the Syrian
government--were a very valuable asset who had the chance to dominate Jarablus, Euphrates
River, and Azez-Aleppo once they were able to get rid of ISIS occupation. 15 Russia kept
expanding their operations towards Latakia in order to eliminate the American harbor located
there, which was suspected of being a receiving spot for heavy artillery shipments. Russia
expansion was also directed towards weakening the Syria-Turkey borderline.
This tension was exactly why Turkey would not stay silent and retaliated against
Russia, which led to the shooting down of the Su-24. Turkey attempted to show that their
country also had military forces which needed to be reckoned with. Turkeys confidence was
also boosted by their status as a NATO country, also known as Americas ally. Corresponding
with Realism, NATO backed Turkey up because they also had interests in the Middle East. As
mentioned by the theory, the state would not cooperate with other actors without any specific
purpose other than to strengthen itself (self-interest).

14 Sumantra Maitra, "It's Not a Cold War It's a Great Power Rivalry," Russia Direct,
March 9th 2016, accessed on March 15th 2016, retrieved from http://www.russiadirect.org/opinion/its-not-cold-war-its-great-power-rivalry

15 The areas were very valuable for winning over Assad since they were considered as
buffer areas.Fehim Tastekin, Turkey gambles on the Turkmens, Almonitor, November
30th 2015, accessed on March 11, 2016, retrieved from http://www.almonitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/11/turkey-syria-russia-turkmen-card-against-kurdsypg.html

CONCLUSION
The outline issue of Turkeys downing the Russian jet involves both countries
political motifs: In order to secure its dominance in Syria, Russia has an ambition to crush the
rebels seeking to overthrow President Assad in Syria, including the accomplices of Turkey in
Syria-Turkey border. In contrast, Turkey, which detests Assad, struck back to warn Russia not
to attack the Syria-Turkey border areas where the Turkmens base camps are, which
accommodate rebels against Assad.
The theories of Realist have clearly interpreted the reasons behind the Russian-Turkey
airspace conflict and the actions of both countries. Based on this study case, this essay shows
how the concept of Realism; i.e., the state as the only actor, self-interest, and effort in
achieving power, was effective in analyzing the contemporary Russia-Turkey conflict.
According to Realism, the conflict between the two countries happened as basically a country
does not need to trust other countries, and may justify immediate ways to safeguard the
interests and security of its own country.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dempsey, J. (2012). Russia, Syria and the Arab Spring. Hampton Roads International
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Girit, S. (2016, January 2). Turkey faces big losses as Russia sanctions bite. BBC News.
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Jackson, R. & Sorensen, G. (2013). Introduction to International Relations: Theories and

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Jenkins, L. (2015, November 28). Vladimir Putin announces Russian sanctions against
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Shapir, Y. & Magen, Z. (2012). Bashar Assad is Flexing Muscles. INSS Insight, 307, p. 2-3.
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%E2%80%9D%22&f=false
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