Research Article: Turkey as a New Security Actor in the Horn of Africa

  

Abstract:

Due to having unique geographical location, the Horn of Africa is one of the most important strategic regions in the world. Thanks to the geo-political and geo-economic importance of the region, global and regional actors have continuously maintained their strategic relations with this region throughout history. Despite the existence of structural political, economic, and security crises in the region, significant political and economic transformation has emerged throughout the region after the 2000s. This study argues whether Turkey’s increasing security cooperation with the Horn of Africa has contributed to the political, economic, and military transformation of the countries in the region. Since 2011, Turkey has implemented a multi-faceted and proactive foreign policy to strengthen its strategic relations with the Horn of Africa. This article found that Turkey’s lack of a history of exploitation and active humanitarian aid policy of Turkey in Africa have paved the way for the emergence of the establishment of strong and long-term strategic partnerships with the countries in the Horn of Africa.

Keywords: Turkey, AK Party, Africa, Horn of Africa, Security, Foreign Policy

Citation:

Sıradağ, A. (2024). “Turkey as a New Security Actor in the Horn of Africa,” Afrika Havzası ve Afrika Medeniyetleri Dergisi, 6(1): 7-18.

The link to download:

https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/akaf/issue/85984/1509431

Kitap Bölümü: "Türkiye’nin Afrika’ya yönelik küresel rekabetteki konumu nasıl ifade edilebilir?"

Özet: 

Afrika kıtası sahip olduğu jeo-ekonomik ve jeo-politik öneminden dolayı dünya politikasındaki stratejik yeri ve önemi her gün artmaktadır. Özellikle Afrika’daki eski Batılı sömürü ülkeleri, yeni küresel ve bölgesel aktörlerin kıtadaki aktif politikaları karşısında 2000 sonrası Afrika kıtasındaki stratejik rollerini yeniden tanımlama ihtiyacı içerisine girmişlerdir. Afrika ülkeleri 2000 sonrası Batının ırkçı ve yıkıcı tarihlerinden dolayı ve kendi ekonomik ve siyasi özgürlüklerini gerçek anlamda tamamlamak için yeni aktörlerle işbirliği içerisine girmişlerdir. Türkiye’nin kıtada sömürü tarihi olmaması ve güçlü insani ve kalkınma yardım projeleri gibi sebeplerden ötürü kıtadaki çoğu ülkelerle kısa süre içerisinde çok güçlü stratejik işbirliği alanları geliştirmiştir. Afrika ülkeleri özellikle yeni aktörlerle doğru stratejik ilişkiler geliştirebilirse ve bu ilişkilerin etkisi ile kendi iç dinamiklerini siyasi ve ekonomik güçlenmeleri yönünde kullanabilirlerse kıtanın ekonomik büyümesi ve stratejik gücü 21. Yüzyılda daha fazla olacaktır.

Kaynak: 

Sıradağ, A. (2024). Türkiye’nin Afrika’ya Yönelik Küresel Rekabetteki Konumu Nasıl İfade Edilebilir? Sıvış, E ve Aydın, H. (Ed), "50 Soruda Türkiye-Afrika İlişkileri" içinde, İstanbul: Altınbaş Üniversitesi Yayınları, ss. 310-316.

https://www.nobelyayin.com/kitap_20833.html

Research Article: Turkey’s Foreign Policy Toward Africa: Three Levels of Analysis

Abstract: 

Turkey has been actively engaged in African politics since the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government announced the year 2005 as the Year of Africa. The strategic importance of Africa for Turkey has significantly increased during the AK Party governments. The number of Turkey–Africa studies done both in Turkey and in the West has increased since 2010, but most of these studies dealt with Turkish foreign policy toward Africa from a narrow perspective. This study highlights that there are complicated, hidden, and interrelated factors and dynamics driving Turkey–Africa relations. In particular, the systematic factors are the most overlooked dynamics in the studies carried out. This study endeavors to explore these complicated dynamics in a systematic and holistic approach by using the three levels of analysis. The main research question in the study is, “What are the individual, state, and systemic factors shaping Turkish foreign policy toward Africa?” In this research, primary and secondary sources and the “process-tracing research method” were used.

Keywords: 

Turkey, Africa, Turkey–Africa relations, Turkish foreign policy, AK Party governments, new global system.

Sıradağ, A. ( December 2023). Turkey's Foreign Policy toward Africa: Three Levels of Analysis, Journal of Asian and African Studies - JAAS), (SSCI and Scopus).

 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00219096231215686 

Research Article: Turkey's Growing Role as a Security Actor in Somalia: Dynamics and Motivations

Abstract

Somalia has a special place in the foreign policy of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which has been in power since November 2002. Turkey's relations with Somalia started to develop after the official visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Somalia on 19 August 2011, who was the prime minister at that time, to support Somalis affected by severe drought and civil war. After 2011, Turkey launched one of the largest humanitarian aid campaigns in Somalia. Turkey has not only developed a soft power policy in Somalia but also started to implement a hard power policy. In this respect, Turkey has been training hundreds of Somali soldiers and police in both Ankara and Mogadishu since 2012. At the same time, Turkey opened its largest military base abroad in Somalia in 2017. This research explores the reasons and dynamics behind Turkey's deepening of its security policy in Somalia and sheds light on what Turkey's security policy means for Somalia. The research argues that there is a combination of factors driving Turkey's security policy towards Somalia, including socio-cultural, economic, and geopolitical. This study examines Turkey's security policy with a holistic approach, using conceptual and theoretical perspectives.

Keywords: Turkey, Somalia, Africa, Security, Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Foreign Policy.

Sıradağ, A. (October 2022). Turkey's Growing Role as a Security Actor in Somalia: Dynamics and Motivations, Journal of Academic Inquiries (JAI), Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 389-404.

https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/akademikincelemeler/issue/72909/1115931 

Research Article: The Rise of Turkey’s Soft Power in Africa: Reasons, Dynamics, and Constraints

 

Abstract

Since 2005, with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) governments, the African continent has gained great importance in Turkish Foreign Policy. Turkey's soft power policy is one of the most important tools in the development of multilateral relations with Africa. Turkey has been making significant cooperation with African countries in the fields of military and defense in recent years. For example, Turkey's largest overseas military base was opened in Somalia in 2017. However, Turkey's soft power prepares a very important strategic ground for deepening relations with the continent in the political, economic, social, and security fields. The ruling AK Party governments have moved Turkey's relations with Africa from an ideological dimension to a strategic one, revealing that the African continent has a strategic meaning for Turkey. The research argues that Turkey’s soft power strategy toward Africa has been influenced by several factors and dynamics including historical, geographical, political, and economic. This study aims to contribute to the literature by analyzing Turkey’s soft power policy in Africa in a conceptual framework and holistic approach.

Keywords: Turkey, Africa, Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Soft Power, Turkish Foreign Policy. 

Sıradağ, A. (August 2022). The Rise of Turkey’s Soft Power in Africa: Reasons, Dynamics, and Constraints, International Journal of Political Studies, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 1-14.

 https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/icps/issue/72403/1117810 

Kitap bölümü: 21. Yüzyılda Türkiye-Afrika İlişkileri

 

Özet: 

Afrika kıtasının dünya politikasındaki stratejik önemi 21. yüzyılda artarak devam etmektedir. Afrika, özellikle sahip olduğu jeo-politik konumu, dinamik genç nüfusu ve zengin yeraltı ve yerüstü kaynakları gibi özelliklerinden dolayı 21. yüzyılda küresel ve bölgesel aktörler için vazgeçilmez bir stratejik kıtadır. Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisinin 2002 yılında iktidara gelmesi ile Türk dış politikasında köklü değişim ve dönüşüm yaşanmıştır. Özellikle AK Partinin dış politikasında çok boyutlu dış politika ilkesi komşu bölge ve bölge-dışı ülkelerle stratejik ilişkilerin geliştirilmesinde çok önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, Afrika kıtası 2000’li yıllardan itibaren Türkiye’nin dış politikasında çok özel bir yer bulmaya başlamış ve 2008 yılında Türkiye, Afrika Birliği Zirvesi’nde kıtanın stratejik ortağı olarak kabul edilmiştir. Bu çalışma Türkiye’nin 2000 sonrası Türkiye-Afrika ilişkilerini incelemekte ve bu ilişkilere yön veren sebep ve dinamikleri analiz etmektedir.     

Sıradağ, A. (2023). "21. Yüzyılda Türkiye-Afrika İlişkileri," 21'inci Yüzyılda Türkiye'nin Dış Politikası, (Editör: Ramazan Erdağ). Ankara: KADİM Yayınları, ss. 241-255.

https://www.kadimyayinlari.com/kitap/346

 New Article with Prof. Dr. Gerrit Olivier was published in BusinessDay.

"Turkey’s evolving foreign policy offers South Africa a unique opportunity"

Though Turkey does not figure in the first circle of SA’s foreign policy, bilateral relations are nevertheless pragmatic, but lack a discernible strategic rationale. That depiction is restricted mainly to “ideological” or “struggle” partners and “permanent friends” such as China, Russia, Cuba, Palestine and most African countries. Apart from relations with China, Russia and some Southern African states, these bilateral relations mostly do not add to SA’s national interests, particularly with regard to enhancing the country’s declining economy, political influence and prestige as an international role player. The message is clear:  SA’s diplomacy should make way for a more nimble approach to take advantage of opportunities and challenges in pursuit of rewarding permanent interests rather than dysfunctional ideological pursuits.

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2021-06-07-turkeys-evolving-foreign-policy-offers-sa-a-unique-opportunity/