Türkiye’s Strategic Engagement Within the Organization of Turkic States

Abstract

The Turkic states emerged after the dissolution of the USSR, have attempted to create several multilateral platforms, fostering their relations and developing cooperation in a wide range of areas. In the series, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is portrayed as a full-fledged international organization of the Turkic world that has increased its significance in Eurasian geopolitics. Türkiye, as the leading member-state in this organization, is launching numerous initiatives and urging Turkic states to increase their proactivity in regional matters. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate the role of the OTS in Turkish foreign policy and identify the country’s strategic objectives from its engagement within the organization. Additionally, the member states’ approaches to Ankara’s proposals in the OTS are examined using Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as case studies.

Taking the framework of Foreign Policy Analysis and the concept of soft power as an umbrella of this research, the study reveals that the OTS has contributed to advancing Türkiye’s multidimensional foreign policy strategies toward the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia, facilitating Ankara with a means of soft-power instruments and strengthening its geopolitical position in the Turkic world. In response, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have demonstrated selective and pragmatic patterns of engagement driven by their national priorities and the sensitivity of some issues.

Methodologically, this research employs primarily qualitative research design, including historical analysis, content analysis and semi-structured interviews, which are complemented by secondary data analysis and quantitative evaluations.

Keywords: The Organization of Turkic States, Turkic world, Turkish foreign policy, Turkish soft-power, Turkic identity, Pan-turkism, Central Asia.