Türkiye’s Facilitation in the Russia–Ukraine Conflict: An Ontological and Reputational Security Perspective
Abstract
In an era increasingly defined by uncertainty, global inequality, and the erosion of multilateralism, states are not only concerned with material power but also with sustaining a coherent foreign policy identity and cultivating a credible and favorable international image. Drawing on the mutually constitutive relationship between ontological and reputational security, the article situates Türkiye’s diplomatic behavior within broader theoretical debates in international relations. It examines Türkiye’s role as a facilitator in the Russia–Ukraine conflict as a performative expression of its foreign policy identity. The article argues that Türkiye’s facilitation efforts are shaped not merely by pragmatic interests but also by the pursuit of ontological and reputational security. These efforts reflect a consistent pattern of behavior rooted in Türkiye’s self-conception as a constructive bridging power between East and West. By adopting a routine facilitating posture in moments of crisis, Türkiye reaffirms its international image and navigates the reputational demands of middle-power diplomacy. The article makes an original contribution to the literature by explicitly linking ontological security with reputational strategy, two perspectives that are rarely analyzed together in conflict resolution studies. This interdisciplinary linkage not only sheds new light on Türkiye’s role in the Russia–Ukraine conflict but also offers a non-traditional framework for assessing how facilitation simultaneously serves as a means of identity reproduction and reputation management in contemporary conflict resolution.
Keywords
Türkiye’s Facilitation in the Russia–Ukraine Conflict: An Ontological and Reputational Security Perspective
Abstract
In an era increasingly defined by uncertainty, global inequality, and the erosion of multilateralism, states are not only concerned with material power but also with sustaining a coherent foreign policy identity and cultivating a credible and favorable international image. Drawing on the mutually constitutive relationship between ontological and reputational security, the article situates Türkiye’s diplomatic behavior within broader theoretical debates in international relations. It examines Türkiye’s role as a facilitator in the Russia–Ukraine conflict as a performative expression of its foreign policy identity. The article argues that Türkiye’s facilitation efforts are shaped not merely by pragmatic interests but also by the pursuit of ontological and reputational security. These efforts reflect a consistent pattern of behavior rooted in Türkiye’s self-conception as a constructive bridging power between East and West. By adopting a routine facilitating posture in moments of crisis, Türkiye reaffirms its international image and navigates the reputational demands of middle-power diplomacy. The article makes an original contribution to the literature by explicitly linking ontological security with reputational strategy, two perspectives that are rarely analyzed together in conflict resolution studies. This interdisciplinary linkage not only sheds new light on Türkiye’s role in the Russia–Ukraine conflict but also offers a non-traditional framework for assessing how facilitation simultaneously serves as a means of identity reproduction and reputation management in contemporary conflict resolution.
Keywords
