Türkiye’s Contribution to Mediation Practice at International Organizations
Abstract
Global security and stability are increasingly strained by ongoing wars, unresolved frozen conflicts, and emerging crises that carry the potential to escalate into large-scale confrontations. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Türkiye occupies a geopolitically strategic position within this environment as it is directly exposed to the consequences of active conflicts in its neighborhood as well as the destabilizing effects of protracted disputes and looming security challenges. Against this backdrop, mediation, implemented in a more inclusive manner, has emerged not merely as a diplomatic instrument but as a strategic necessity and central pillar of Turkish foreign policy. The main research question of this article is Türkiye’s practice in international mediation with a particular focus on its initiatives within multilateral frameworks, namely the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It highlights Türkiye’s sustained efforts to institutionalize mediation both globally and regionally, emphasizing its contributions to shaping international norms and practices in conflict resolution. In this context, the article devotes special attention to the Istanbul Mediation Conference, which since 2012 have become a prominent international platform for dialogue and exchange among policymakers, scholars, and practitioners in the field of mediation. It also discusses the OIC Member States Mediation Conferences, inaugurated in 2017, which reflect Türkiye’s initiative to foster a mediation culture within the Islamic world.
Keywords
Türkiye’s Contribution to Mediation Practice at International Organizations
Abstract
Global security and stability are increasingly strained by ongoing wars, unresolved frozen conflicts, and emerging crises that carry the potential to escalate into large-scale confrontations. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Türkiye occupies a geopolitically strategic position within this environment as it is directly exposed to the consequences of active conflicts in its neighborhood as well as the destabilizing effects of protracted disputes and looming security challenges. Against this backdrop, mediation, implemented in a more inclusive manner, has emerged not merely as a diplomatic instrument but as a strategic necessity and central pillar of Turkish foreign policy. The main research question of this article is Türkiye’s practice in international mediation with a particular focus on its initiatives within multilateral frameworks, namely the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It highlights Türkiye’s sustained efforts to institutionalize mediation both globally and regionally, emphasizing its contributions to shaping international norms and practices in conflict resolution. In this context, the article devotes special attention to the Istanbul Mediation Conference, which since 2012 have become a prominent international platform for dialogue and exchange among policymakers, scholars, and practitioners in the field of mediation. It also discusses the OIC Member States Mediation Conferences, inaugurated in 2017, which reflect Türkiye’s initiative to foster a mediation culture within the Islamic world.
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