Credit ratings might be an essentially political act but Turkey's economic fundamentals and political capacity are robust enough to withstand such pressures.

Ankara is firmly back in action as an emerging power acting proactively in regional and global matters

Turkey's journey as a rising regional democratic power continues despite multifarious internal and external interventions, but might create surprising new partnerships

The Russian government started to follow policies that resulted in significant problems and challenges for the Western world and international community in different regions. With the rapid changes in the Middle East following the beginning of the Arab Spring, Russia's foreign policy started to demonstrate signs of a return to its default setting.

In line with its multidimensional foreign policy line in recent years, Ankara adopted an attitude of proactive engagement with major regional institutional organizations such as the Arab League, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the African Union.

As the Middle East continues to be dominated by age-old rivalries, unresolved conflicts and protracted ethno-sectarian traumas, the epicenter of global hegemonic competition has shifted to the Asia-Pacific, where China and the U.S. are involved in a multipronged struggle for political, economic and geostrategic domination.

Turkey will continue to surprise the endemic pessimists and return to a high and sustained path of growth after the completion of structural reforms.

Turkey could be very active in pushing for a better deal from the IMF and the World Trade Organization (WTO) for developing countries in the context of crisis prevention strategies and the advancement of the Doha Development Agenda.

Turkey's policy entrepreneurship within the G-20 has been weaker compared to similar middle powers, but holding the rotating presidency presents a golden opportunity to upgrade its activism in economic diplomacy platforms.

Turkey's presidency of the G20 in 2015 presents a golden opportunity to bring crucial development issues to the global governance agenda and stimulate dynamism of its national economy by forming new diplomatic and commercial linkages.

The fact that Turkey will take over the presidency of the G-20 from Australia on Dec. 1, 2014 is a critical development in terms of Turkey's ongoing efforts to establish itself as a major emerging power with a strong voice on global issues.

A major theme that will occupy our agendas on the road to the construction of the new Turkey will be the importance of effective R&D and science-industry policies designed to overcome the "middle income trap."

The significance of domestic problems, and emerging strategic competition between India and China may reduce the risk of escalation with Pakistan for a while.

Along with Turkey's economic dynamism and developmental momentum, Turkish diplomacy is also likely to evolve in a parallel direction whereby economic and technological concerns take center stage with a focus on global competitiveness.

Turkey successful combination of fiscal discipline and welfare policies yielded desired results. The next step forward requires more R&D spending

The debate on the role and influence of the BRICS in global politics are increasing every day. However, what is lacking in this debate is that the focus is always on economic level.