Middle Power Foreign Policy Behavior in Peripheral Regions: The Cases of Türkiye and South Korea in Central Asia

Year 2023, Volume: 23 Issue: 2, 399 - 426, 22.12.2023

Fatma Aslı Kelkitli

https://doi.org/10.32449/egetdid.1321013

Abstract

This study examines the foreign policy behavior of Türkiye and South Korea in Central Asia comparatively in the post-Cold War era. The article argues that both Ankara and Seoul accomplished to expand and institutionalize their interaction with the Central Asian states through the establishment of multilateral diplomatic platforms, allocation of development assistance and utilization of soft power instruments. While Türkiye’s political bonds with the Central Asian states are more entrenched and institutionalized compared to the South Korea’s political association with Central Asia, South Korea surpasses Türkiye in terms of economic performance in the region. The socio-cultural sphere is a domain in which Russia still prevails despite the increasing Turkish and South Korean efforts in education and entertainment realms. Furthermore, while both Türkiye and South Korea resorted to middle power means of convening international meetings and extending aid in Central Asia, they were unable to assume conciliator/mediator roles in regional conflicts.

Keywords

Rising middle powers, Türkiye, South Korea, foreign policy behavior, Central Asia

Çevre Bölgelerde Orta Büyüklükte Güç Dış Politika Davranışı: Orta Asya’da Türkiye ve Güney Kore Vakaları

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde Türkiye ve Güney Kore’nin Orta Asya'daki dış politika davranışlarını karşılaştırmalı olarak incelemektedir. Makale, hem Ankara’nın hem de Seul’ün çok taraflı diplomatik platformların kurulması, kalkınma yardımlarının tahsis edilmesi ve yumuşak güç araçlarının kullanılması yoluyla Orta Asya devletleriyle etkileşimlerini genişletmeyi ve kurumsallaştırmayı başardığını savunmaktadır. Türkiye’nin Orta Asya devletleriyle olan siyasi bağları, Güney Kore’nin Orta Asya ile olan siyasi ilişkisine göre daha köklü ve kurumsallaşmışken, Güney Kore, bölgedeki ekonomik performans açısından Türkiye’yi geride bırakmaktadır. Sosyo-kültürel nüfuz sahası, eğitim ve eğlence alanlarında Türkiye ve Güney Kore’nin artan çabalarına rağmen Rusya'nın hala hâkim olduğu bir sahadır. Ayrıca, hem Türkiye hem de Güney Kore, uluslararası toplantılar düzenlemek ve Orta Asya’ya yardım uzatmak gibi orta büyüklükte güç araçlarına başvururken, bölgesel çatışmalarda uzlaştırıcı/arabulucu rollerini üstlenememişlerdir.

Keywords

Yükselen orta büyüklükte güçler, Türkiye, Güney Kore, dış politika davranışı, Orta Asya

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