Causal Mechanisms of Ontological (in)security in Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy: Anxiety Transmittance From Sèvres To Lausanne

Abstract

In the ‘age of anxiety,’ research on trauma, memory, and syndromes in politics and foreign policy is growing. This article examines Turkey's unique case, focusing on anxieties over the Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne. It explores how both generate anxiety, using an interdisciplinary approach to ontological (in)security, trauma, and memory with a Discourse-Historical Approach. It identifies two processes: anxiety informing policy choices and policies rationalized through collective anxiety. Tracing Turkey's history shows how anxiety is amplified and mitigated. The findings highlight anxiety’s role in policymaking, revealing how elites use trauma and memory to shape politics and foreign policy. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.