POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POL3413 Turkish Foreign Policy Spring 3 0 3 6
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester

Basic information

Language of instruction: En
Type of course: Must Course
Course Level: Bachelor
Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Course Lecturer(s): Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Course Objectives: This course is an interdisciplinary review of Turkish Foreign Policy from its Ottoman roots to the present. Based on both history and theory, the course traces the continuity and change in Turkish Foreign Policy throughout the years and offers lessons for the future.

Learning Outputs

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who have succeeded in this course;

1. Define the legacy of the Ottoman Empire on Turkish Foreign Policy;
2. Differentiate between Turkish Foreign Policy before, during and after the Cold War;
3. Interpret the historical evolution of security culture in Turkey;
4. Evaluate the successes and shortcomings of Turkish Foreign Policy;
5. Develop competencies with respect to active inquiry and critical thinking.

Course Content

Ottoman legacy over Turkish Foreign Policy; foreign policy during the foundational years of the Turkish Republic; Turkish Foreign Policy during the interwar years; foreign policy pursued during the Second World War and the Cold War; Turkish foreign policy in the post-Cold War era against the backdrop of changing actors, principles and institutions.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to the course & Ottoman Legacy in Turkish Foreign Policy • Roderic H. Davison, “Ottoman Diplomacy and Its Legacy”, 1996. • Roderic H. Davison, “Turkish Diplomacy from Mudros to Lausanne”, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZT-Vx-O3r4 (The first residential Ottoman envoy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoffgY0brTk (Turkish independence and the Treaty of Sevres) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sryz1T7M0h4 (Incredible Turk: 1958 Documentary on Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Turkish independence)
2) Cumhuriyetin İlk Yılları ve İki Savaş Arası Dönemde Türk Dış Politikası • Nur Bilge Criss, “Turkey’s Foreign Policies during the Interwar Period", 2017. • Dilek Barlas, “Friends or Foes? Diplomatic Relations between Italy and Turkey”, 2004. • Dilek Barlas and Şuhnaz Yılmaz, “Managing the Transition from Pax Britannica to Pax Americana", 2016. • Seçkin Barış Gülmez, “Turkish Foreign Policy as an Anomaly", 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlz-B85M08w (Atatürk addresses the American nation, 1925) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgEe0M8PEvs (Lausanne Treaty and population exchange) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BbGAnuyvOE (Leon Trotsky's exile in Istanbul, 1929-1933) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_11aNPRXU8g (Signing ceremony of the Balkan Pact)
3) TFP during the Second World War: Active Neutrality • William Hale, “Turkey and the Second World War”, 2012. • Ayşegül Avcı, “Winning the War of Perception", 2015. • Kıvanç Coş and Pınar Bilgin, “Stalin’s Demands", 2010. • Gül İnanç, “The Politics of ‘Active Neutrality’ on the Eve of a New World Order", 2006. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRPgx6c4njE (Turkish military exercises in Thrace, 1937) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=598xp9n5r2c (Anglo-French-Turkish Friendship Treaty, 1939) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz6P_q6qNrQ&t=14s (The German–Turkish Non-Aggression Pact, 1941) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QietPs3fG40 (Turkey's celebration of the Republic Day in 1941) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-RM10biRoE&t=23s (İnönü and Churchill in Adana Talks, 1943) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvuyilO8zxA (Turkey breaks with Germany, 1944)
4) TFP and the Cold War (I): Choosing Sides • William Hale, “Turkey and the Cold War, 1945-1963”, 2012. • Melvyn Leffler, “Strategy, Diplomacy, and the Cold War", 1985. • John M. Vander Lippe, “Forgotten Brigade of the Forgotten War", 2000. • Cameron S. Brown, “The One Coalition They Craved to Join", 2008. • Nur Bilge Criss, “The USA-Turkey-Middle East", 2013. (Turkey and the Korean War) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxfIZRkUxA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8iusiLVV4g (Baghdad Pact) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_zmqXbuuuA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6gKtdW-QTA (Turkey and Cyprus) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlPRPl-wRXc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EemVDCzj2U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0xQ9WTNRWs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc46f-aExSM (arrival of Turkish troops to guarantee order and stability on the Island; they were to be accompanied by their Greek counterparts) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymcoGI8NWtE
5) TFP and the Cold War (II) William Hale, “Turkey and the Cold War, 1964-1990”, 2012. • Nur Bilge Criss, “Strategic Nuclear Missiles in Turkey", 1997. • Esra Pakin-Albayrakoğlu, “Turkish Parliamentary Debates on the American War in Vietnam”, 2017. • Şule Anlar-Güneş, “Aegean Sea Territorial Waters Issue”, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAi7RyR0qac (brief history of the Cuban Missile Crisis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZVdDnOHuEI (Jupiters and Çiğli Base) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4-SyIwgiBw (a case of reconciliation in divided Cyprus) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cQLMMUKkXs (America's drive against heroin and Turkey's role)
6) WRAP UP AND Q&A
7) Early Post-Cold War TFP: In Search of New Identity • Sabri Sayarı; “Turkish Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era: The Challenges of Multi-Regionalism”, Journal of International Affairs, 54: 1 (2000). • Ziya Öniş, “Turkey in the Post-Cold War Era: In Search of Identity”, Middle East Journal, 49:1 (1995). • Lerna K. Yanık, “Constructing Turkish “Exceptionalism”: Discourses of Liminality and Hybridity in Post-Cold War Turkish Foreign Policy”, Political Geography, 30 (2011). • Şener Aktürk, “The Fourth Style of Politics: Eurasianism as a Pro-Russian Rethinking of Turkey’s Geopolitical Identity”, Turkish Studies, 16:1 (2015). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y1b-asR3yI&list=PLOqqjXTKXvwamU6gQC1TyEB2TbEPA3L0W&index=8 (Bulgarian Turks' forced journey to Turkey) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNEBaAfPRC4 (Turkey in the 1990s with respect to identity and economy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P-VlRQBp2o&list=PLOqqjXTKXvwamU6gQC1TyEB2TbEPA3L0W&index=36 (First Gulf War and Turkey)
8) TFP during 1990s: Relations with the West • Sabri Sayarı, “Challenges of Triangular Relations: The US, the EU, and Turkish Accession”, South European Society and Politics, 16:2 (2011). • Meltem Müftüler Baç, “The Never-Ending Story: Turkey and the European Union”, Middle Eastern Studies, 34:4 (1998). • Gülnur Aybet, “The Evolution of NATO's Three Phases and Turkey's Transatlantic Relationship”, Perceptions, 17:1 (2002). • Birgül Demirtaş, “Reconsidering Turkey’s Balkan Ties: Opportunities and Limitations”, in Pınar Gözen Ercan (ed.), Turkish Foreign Policy, Palgrave MacMillan, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UasiL01ne2s (Interview with Foreign Minister İsmail Cem) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JatHB_jCoo ("Postmodern" coup of February 28, 1997) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Il44UcAHds (Turkey on the path to Customs Union)
9) TFP during 1990s: Relations with the Rest • Sabri Sayarı, “Turkey and the Middle East in the 1990s”, Journal of Palestine Studies, 26:3 (1997). • Meliha Benli Altunışık, “The Turkish‐Israeli Rapprochement in the Post‐Cold War Era”, Middle Eastern Studies, 36:2, 172-191 (2000). • Didem Ekinci, “Russia-Turkey Relations (1991-2016): Diverging Interests and Compelling Realities”, in Pınar Gözen Ercan (ed.), Turkish Foreign Policy, Palgrave MacMillan, 2017. • Shireen Hunter, “Turkey, Central Asia, and the Caucasus: Ten Years after Independence”, Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 1:2 (2001). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x16cokvMNDY (Operation Provide Comfort) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmkbx4R-yxk (İsmail Cem and Turkey's diplomatic efforts to end the Iraqi crisis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULu-d155X8U (Turkey's P.M. Ciller on Israel visit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTGie9KvJpc (Welfare Party and the path to the postmodern coup of 1997) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFI6fg8NITg&t=30s (Who is Alexander Dugin?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfslGw9bWzo (Oil deal bw. Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan_only the US President Bill Clinton speaks English, but his message is the gist of this video :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkXd3LUuLq4 (Chechen refugees living in limbo)
10) TFP during 2000s: Relations with the West • Ayşe Ömür Atmaca, “Turkey-US Relations (2009-2016): A Troubled Partnership in a Troubled World?” in Pınar Gözen Ercan (ed.), Turkish Foreign Policy, Palgrave MacMillan, 2017. • Funda Keskin Ata, “EU-Turkey Relations (1999-2016): Conditionality at Work?” in Pınar Gözen Ercan (ed.), Turkish Foreign Policy, Palgrave MacMillan, 2017. • Aslı Ilgıt and Binnur Özkeçeci-Taner, “Turkey at the United Nations Security Council: ‘Rhythmic Diplomacy’ and a Quest for Global Influence”, Mediterranean Politics, 19:2 (2014). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4PDlPZK3d8 (Turkish-Brazil nuclear deal with Iran) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiJ_kD5x7Fk&feature=youtu.be (Obama Turkey Model Partnership) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR0P2zKYrlg (The EU and Turkish foreign policy ambitions - at odds?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH-PyQX0u-A&feature=youtu.be (EU-Turkey refugee deal) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3EJ98vfnrI (The Current State of Turkish-Greek Relations) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKD1dl0Hluw (Turkish foreign policy in the Western Balkans) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MUXxLerFsY&feature=youtu.be (Turkey urges UN to punish Israel for raid on Gaza Flotilla) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uitVssoPXII&feature=youtu.be (Turkey expels Israeli diplomats over Gaza flotilla report)
11) TFP during 2000s: Relations with the Rest (II) • Evren Balta, “From Geopolitical Competition to Strategic Partnership", 2019. • Bahadır Pehlivantürk, “East Asia in Turkish Foreign Policy", 2017. • Nilgün Eliküçük-Yıldırım, “Rigid Boundaries between Turkey and China", 2020. • Volkan İpek, “Turkey’s Foreign Policy towards Sub-Saharan Africa”, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaCsnopcpy0 (Is Turkey undergoing a shift in foreign policy?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxwtLo0Tpj8 (Turkey-Africa relations) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpQWYElV2jM (Turkey-China relations) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PPNelIwano (Turkey-S. Korea relations)
12) TFP during 2000s: Current Issues Evren Balta, “From Geopolitical Competition to Strategic Partnership", 2019. • Bahadır Pehlivantürk, “East Asia in Turkish Foreign Policy", 2017. • Nilgün Eliküçük-Yıldırım, “Rigid Boundaries between Turkey and China", 2020. • Volkan İpek, “Turkey’s Foreign Policy towards Sub-Saharan Africa”, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaCsnopcpy0 (Is Turkey undergoing a shift in foreign policy?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxwtLo0Tpj8 (Turkey-Africa relations) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpQWYElV2jM (Turkey-China relations) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PPNelIwano (Turkey-S. Korea relations)
13) 2000’lerde Türk Dış Politikası: Güncel Meseleler • Hakan Mehmetcik and Arda Can Çelik, “Militarization of Turkish Foreign Policy", 2022. • Mehmet Bardakçı, “Turkey's New Middle East Policy", 2022. • Mustafa Kutlay and Ziya Öniş, “Understanding oscillations in Turkish Foreign Policy", 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhYodbplxP4 (Turkish foreign policy in the Levant) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWQa-EP2SLo (Why are Gulf Nations uniting against Turkey?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ_ii9hSnX0 (Turkish-Iranian rivalry grows over Turkish Caucasus ambitions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKmhixSJ2dM (Turkey-Russia ties at risk? Ankara dubs Ukraine invasion 'war' in shift of rhetoric)
14) Wrap Up and Q&A

Sources

Course Notes: Weekly readings will be uploaded on ItsLearning at the beginning of the semester. Please note that all book chapters and articles listed on the syllabus are also accessible through the BAU Library. The PPT files will be shared on ItsLearning following each class. ---- Haftalık ders okumalarının tamamı, dönem başında ItsLearning’e yüklenir. Ders izlencesinde yer alan tüm kitap bölümleri ve makalelere BAU Kütüphanesi’nden de erişilebilir. PowerPoint dosyaları, hafta bazında ve işlenen ders sonrasında ItsLearning’e yüklenir.
References: İşlenen konularla ilgili Youtube videoları.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 0
Laboratory % 0
Application % 0
Field Work % 0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) % 0
Quizzes 2 % 20
Homework Assignments % 0
Presentation % 0
Project % 0
Seminar % 0
Midterms 1 % 30
Preliminary Jury % 0
Final 1 % 50
Paper Submission % 0
Jury % 0
Bütünleme % 0
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 50
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 50
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 13 39
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship (Work Placement)
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 14 104
Presentations / Seminar
Project
Homework Assignments
Quizzes 3 2
Preliminary Jury
Midterms 1 1.5
Paper Submission
Jury
Final 1 2
Total Workload 148.5

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about the field and relations between them at the level of practice. 5
2) Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies. 5
3) Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences.
4) Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments. 5
5) Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy. 5
6) Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member. 3
7) Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development. 3
8) Communicate with peers both orally and in writing, by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level and the necessary informatics and communication technologies. 5
9) Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives. 3
10) Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments. 5
11) Possess competence to interpret the new political actors, theories and concepts in a global era. 5
12) Evaluate the legal and ethical implications of advanced technologies on politics. 3