Turkey Since 1923: The Rise of a Regional Superpower

  • September 12, 2022
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Zoom virtual lecture



Olivier Courteaux, PhD

Olivier Courteaux holds a Doctorate in History from the University Paris IV-Sorbonne.  He specializes in the history of 20th century international relations, with a particular emphasis on conflicts.

He has taught at various institutions in Ontario including York University/Glendon College, Ryerson University and the Royal Military College in Kingston. He is currently lecturing at the Life Institute (Ryerson University).

Olivier is the author of The War on Terror: Canada’s Dilemma (2009)Canada between Vichy and de Gaulle, 1940-1945, (published in English in 2013 and in French in 2015) on Franco-Canadian relations during the Second World War, and Quatre Journées qui ébranlèrent le Québec on Charles de Gaulle’s famous 1967 “Vive le Québec Libre”, in 2017. Having fallen in love with Egypt in 2019, I chose to write about Franco-Egyptian relations in the 19th century and I am currently working on my latest project: Suez, 1869: the Empress Eugenie's last triumph.


Turkey Since 1923: The Rise of a Regional Superpower

Since 1923, which marked the end of the 600 year old Ottoman Empire and the birth of a new nation-state, Turkey's foreign policy has oscillated between its alliance with the West, repeated interventions in the Middle-East and, more recently, ambiguous relations with Russia at war. The global order as we know it is rapidly changing and a new balance of power, still uncertain, is emerging. Facing a growing political opposition at home and a deepening economic crisis, President Recep Erdogan is seeking to increase his country's influence in a most unstable region and transform Turkey into a regional superpower. This lecture will take a look at Erdogan's grand strategy in light of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.




This event is part of the Fall 2022 Speaker series. Register for the Fall 2022 Event Series.

  • Home
  • Turkey Since 1923: The Rise of a Regional Superpower
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software