Turkish Business Strengths and Weaknesses - Geographic Location
From International Business Wiki
The Republic of Turkey is in a unique geographic position. Turkey has a central location straddling the wealthy countries of Europe and the resource rich but chaotic countries to its south, giving it the opportunity to bridge differences among its neighbors and possibly open greater overland trade for the entire geographic area.
This places the country in a precarious position. It is ideally located to be the middleman for resources such as oil to flow to the rich and energy hungry countries to its north. The primary weakness to what would normally be considered its strength is the lack of open economic policies in the mineral wealthy countries on Turkeys southern and eastern borders. This has led to local economic policies among its neighbors that hinder free trade. Turkeys leaders will have to play a delicate balancing act of soothing the political sensitivities of the governments surrounding it as well as the wealthy countries further away desiring these same resources.
Another weakness may be the growing animosity among some sectors of Europe who have displayed xenophobic reactions to Turkeys cultural similarities to Muslim cultures. These negative reactions have hindered Turkeys entrance into the European Union and the beneficial trade that comes with it. If Turkey is admitted into the European Union then it may go a long way to healing the rift that has been developing among the peoples on the opposite sides of Turkeys borders.
A growing interdependence among the countries of the region for goods and services may be the catalyst needed to bring prosperity and security to the region. However this is unlikely to happen specifically because of the unique commodity of oil needed by some other countries and their willingness to use force to attain control over the vital resources of the region. This will be Turkeys primary weakness for the foreseeable future. A desperate grab to control access to some of the worlds last remaining sources of cheap and plentiful oil fields will make the likelihood of peace and freedom among Turkeys southeastern neighbors precarious. Remember that this is a direct result of politics rather than free trade.
It is precisely because of the Republic of Turkeys unique geographic position that it affords International Business's unique opportunities for Monopoly and profits. Provided that Turkey can keep the flow of trade growing and hinder emotional and irrational politics from controlling trade policies.
Turkey disappears from map of Europe
