“Joe Biden: A Realist Cold War Liberal”

New from SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research:
Policy Brief No. 21, September 2008

“Joe Biden: A Realist Cold War Liberal”

by Nuh YILMAZ,
George Mason University , Washington D.C.

Joe Biden was selected as Barack Obama’s vice presidential candidate largely because of his expertise in foreign policy. Traditionally, in U.S. politics, Dick Cheney-like strong vice presidents are exception, not the rule. It is wiser to focus on Obama’s foreign policy outlook rather than Biden’s, which would benefit Turkey in the long run with its realistic tendencies. Biden’s voting pattern, as it is displayed in three different issues (Cyprus-Armenian Issue-Iraq) does not seem friendly to the Turkish position. However, Biden as a statesman would not create extra problems for Turkey at the expense of U.S national interests. In all of these issues, the person that should be watched carefully is Obama, not Biden. Spending more energy to analyze Obama’s geopolitical priorities can benefit Turkey in the long run.

Please find attached a copy of SETA Policy Brief No. 21, “Joe Biden: A Realist Cold War Liberal”

Please click on the following link to download the document:

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