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Strategic Vision vol. 2, no. 8 (April, 2013)
Bright Horizons Longtime friend of Taiwan and China sees relations improving slowly but surely Muzaffer Eröktem
photo: Muzaffer Eroktem Ambassador Muzaffer Eröktem (front row, second from left) has long been a scholar of international issues, as well as following the changing face of Asia.
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ross-strait relations and the settlement of related questions are the internal affairs of the parties involved. As a longtime friend and a person with great affinity for this region, I deemed it appropriate to convey my views on the matter in the following paragraphs. In the positive sciences, only one way exists to solve the questions of nature, and reach our objective of increasing our understanding. In contrast, the so-
Doubtless, each alternative has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is the business of the social scientist—as well as the politician—to peruse each alternative and choose the one that will prove to be the most advantageous and incur the least risk. Naturally, the alternative that is finally chosen, despite many merits, may also have some defects. This is unavoidable in the social sciences, as it is in politics. The experienced, critical eye can easily observe such de-
cial sciences offer various alternatives to resolving complex social issues and obtain the desired ends.
fects and, with good or bad intentions, mostly ignoring the merits, raise their opposition by exploiting them.
Ambassador Muzaffer Eröktem, a graduate of the Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University, has represented Turkey as a diplomat in Taipei, Tokyo, Beirut, Helsinki, and as Consul General in Tabriz, Melbourne, Alexandria, and as Ambassador in Bishkek. He is presently a visiting fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Taipei where he conducts research on international issues.