The approval of the Common Turkish Alphabet proposal presented by the Common Turkish Alphabet Commission established by the Turkish States Organization (TDT) in Baku from September 9-11, 2024, is considered a significant step both culturally and diplomatically.[i] This development aims not only to ensure linguistic and cultural unity but also to enable the Turkish World to act as a unified force on the international stage.
The common alphabet project among Turkish states holds potential not only to create linguistic unity but also to deepen these states’ diplomatic, economic, trade, and strategic collaborations. Within the framework of soft power strategy, this move can be considered as a tool to enhance the cultural influence of the Turkish World.
The emphasis on a common alphabet was first made at the 10th Summit of the TDT Council of Heads of State on November 3, 2021. Subsequently, the first meeting of the Common Turkish Alphabet Commission, established for the common alphabet, took place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on May 28-29, 2023, in collaboration with the Turkish Language Association and the International Turkic Academy under the TDT’s auspices. The second meeting was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on May 6-7, 2024. Most recently, the third meeting of the commission, held from September 9-11, 2024, reached to an agreement on the Common Turkish Alphabet proposal consisting of 34 letters, which has been reflected in the press.[ii]
In the international system, this move by the TDT stands out as a development that could directly impact the geopolitical structure of Eurasia. While TDT takes significant steps to preserve and develop the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Turkish World, it also aims to strengthen diplomatic and strategic collaborations among states. Linguistic unity will enable Turkish states to operate more coherently in diplomatic correspondence and international meetings, which has the potential to contribute to TDT’s role as a stronger actor in the international system.
At the same time, within the context of the “Central Asia-2040” and “TDT-2040” visions, the Common Turkish Alphabet project can be evaluated as a strategic element of regional integration. Linguistic unity could create significant growth potential in economic cooperation by increasing speed and effectiveness in diplomacy and trade.
The Common Turkish Alphabet project has the potential to increase the strategic and geopolitical power of the Turkish states. Positioned at the center of Eurasia, Turkish states hold a significant geostrategic position. The Turkish World, which has a critical role in projects such as the Modern Silk Road and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), has the possibility of becoming more effective in trade, transportation, and diplomatic processes by achieving linguistic unity. This could not only strengthen economic ties but also increase cultural and strategic collaborations. The common alphabet could facilitate communication in these projects and enable Turkish states to develop common strategies.
The Common Turkish Alphabet project is an idealistic initiative aiming to construct a common cultural identity based on cultural diplomacy in the Turkish World in the long term, as a concrete reflection of İsmail Gaspıralı’s motto of “Unity in Language, Thought, and Work.” However, in the short term, this step can be evaluated more as a move taken in line with strategic and geopolitical interests. Linguistic harmony among Turkish states will strengthen their ability to act jointly on the international stage and deepen diplomatic and economic collaborations, making them to become more effective actors regionally and globally.
While this process stands out as a factor that increases strategic power in the short term, it also emerges as an initiative reinforcing the Turkish World’s common cultural identity and increasing its soft power capacity in the long term. Within the framework of soft power, the impact of the Common Turkish Alphabet on cultural diplomacy will be significant, strengthening cultural ties among Turkish states and allowing them to act as a unified cultural force on the international stage. This situation is expected to contribute to increasing the cultural influence of the Turkish World and transforming it into a more effective diplomatic power on international platforms. Indeed, as a result of the meeting where the common alphabet was agreed upon, the Turkish Academy stated the following: “Developing a unified Turkish alphabet will promote mutual understanding and cooperation among Turkish societies while preserving their linguistic heritage.”[iii]
In the West, especially within the European Union (EU), it is highly likely that the transition of Turkish states to the Latin alphabet will be seen as an “effort to integrate with the West.” It can be expected that the West will generally view this process positively. Because the adoption of the Latin alphabet by the Turkish World will be seen as a step toward developing strategic and commercial relations with the West. However, some Western factions might argue that the strengthening and independence pursuits of Turkish states could be contrary to Western interests. Hungary’s role within the TDT is expected to be central to these discussions in the West. Unlike the EU, Hungary aims to establish deep cultural ties with Turkish states, which could lead to different reactions in the West.
From Russia’s perspective, the Common Turkish Alphabet project may be perceived as a strategic threat. The Cyrillic alphabet imposed on Turkish peoples during the Soviet era was a symbol of Russian cultural influence. The transition of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to the Latin alphabet may weaken Russia’s cultural and political influence. Although Moscow might pursue a more aggressive diplomatic stance towards Turkish states, such actions may be limited. However, within the framework of the “Central Asia–2040” vision[iv], TDT’s cultural and strategic rise against Western and particularly U.S. hegemony might be seen as more acceptable to Russia. Nevertheless, some political analysts argue that this situation may weaken Russia’s influence in projects such as the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
China is undoubtedly expected to closely monitor these developments to protect its economic and strategic interests in Central Asia. China, which is increasing its influence in Central Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative, might view the Turkish World’s greater integration with the West as a threat to its economic interests. However, China might choose to maintain its influence over Turkish states through economic and trade collaborations rather than directly responding to this process.
Iran, which is seen as a gateway to Central Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Anatolia, may be uncomfortable with the unification of Turkish states, particularly in their relations with some of these states. The cultural and linguistic unity of the Turkish World through the Latin alphabet may weaken Iran’s sphere of influence in the region. Iran may oppose the integration of Turkish states with the West and may think that it could harm its own strategic interests.[v] C5+1 is a platform for the U.S. to enhance economic and security cooperation with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Common Turkish Alphabet project has the potential to directly affect these U.S. initiatives. The unification of the Turkish World through its internal dynamics is expected to limit the U.S.’s influence in the region to a certain extent. Further integration of Turkish states with the West may support U.S. policies of balancing against Russia in the region. However, this process might also lead to the Turkish World moving towards more independent actions outside the West. While the C5+1 initiative is seen as an opportunity for the U.S. to increase its influence in Central Asia, the result of this development may make cooperation between Turkish states and the U.S. more complex and limit the U.S.’s influence in the region.
Moreover, this move by the TDT should be evaluated within the framework of international relations theories of realism and idealism. From a realism perspective, the Common Turkish Alphabet project is evaluated as a strategic step that could alter the balance of power in international relations. According to realism theory, states seek to ensure their security and protect their interests in the international system. In this context, the Turkish states’ efforts to ensure cultural unity can be seen as a means to strengthen their independence, create a more unified front against external threats, and increase their regional influence.
Realism is an approach based on a power balance and security. Therefore, the strategic advantages provided by the Common Turkish Alphabet to TDT member states will be quite significant. This project is also expected to contribute to the states pursuing a more coherent foreign policy. By strengthening linguistic unity, Turkish states can become a more effective power in the diplomatic arena. This situation allows Turkish states to pursue their strategic interests more independently while limiting the influence of major powers like Russia and China in the Turkish World.
Within the framework of idealism, the Common Turkish Alphabet project can be seen as a step that aims to make the Turkish World a more unified power in the international arena through peaceful cooperation and cultural diplomacy. According to the idealist view, cultural and diplomatic collaborations in international relations are considered as tools that reduce conflicts between states and promote peace. From this viewpoint, the provision of linguistic unity through a common alphabet reflects Turkish states’ efforts to deepen international cooperation and develop peaceful common strategies.
The common alphabet will enable the preservation and strengthening of cultural heritage in the Turkish World. This will contribute to states establishing stronger cultural ties within themselves and enable them to play a more effective role in global diplomacy.
When viewed within the framework of realism and idealism, the Common Turkish Alphabet project is evaluated as an effort by the Turkish World to become a stronger and more effective actor in international relations. From a realist approach, this step is considered a development challenging the strategic interests of major powers; from an idealist perspective, it facilitates increased peaceful cooperation and regional collaboration. Ultimately, this project stands out as a multi-faceted step that aims to enhance not only cultural unity of the TDT but also its strategic and diplomatic power.
[i] “Turkic States Reach Agreement on Common 34-Letter Alphabet”, Report, https://report.az/en/cultural-policy/turkic-states-reach-agreement-on-common-34-letter-alphabet/, (Accession Date: 12.09.2024).
[ii] “Turkic World Common Alphabet Commission Completes Joint Work”, AKIpress, https://akipress.com/news:795324:Turkic_World_Common_Alphabet_Commission_completes_joint_work/, (Accession Date: 12.09.2024).
[iii] “Strany Tyurkskogo Mira Soglasovali Yedinyy Alfavit na Osnove Latinitsy”, Tengri News, https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/stranyi-tyurkskogo-mira-soglasovali-edinyiy-alfavit-osnove-547729/, (Accession Date: 12.09.2024).
[iv] Saniya Sakenova, “Tokayev Outlines Central Asia’s Vision for Regional Cooperation and Growth”, Astana Times, https://astanatimes.com/2024/08/tokayev-outlines-central-asias-vision-for-regional-cooperation-and-growth/, (Accession Date: 12.09.2024).
[v] “C5+1 Leaders’ Joint Statement”, The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/21/c51-leaders-joint-statement/, (Accession Date: 12.09.2024).
