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/ 

 

Interviewed by Journalist Annegina Randewijk from Nederlands Dagblad on 6 April 2021, Tuesday

 Wie krijgt na China voet aan de grond in Afrika: de EU of misschien wel Turkije?

(After China, who will gain a foothold in Africa: the EU or perhaps Turkey?)

https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/buitenland/1030373/welke-grootmacht-krijgt-de-meeste-voet-aan-de-grond-in-afrika-c

New article: Turkey’s Engagement with the African Organisations: Partner or Competitor?

 

    Abstract

Turkey has been among one of the most active players in African politics over the last decade. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) governments have changed the traditional foreign policy approach towards Africa. Turkey has sought to develop its strategic relations with non-Western regional and sub-regional organisations during the AK Party governments. In this regard, Turkish Embassy in Addis Ababa was accredited to the African Union (AU) and other sub-regional African organisations since 2005. In this research, the main question is ‘why has Turkey deepened and widened its strategic relations with African regional and sub-regional organizations?’ This research will scrutinise Turkey’s engagement with the African organisations by employing a theoretical approach and a holistic approach. According to the findings of this research, Turkey has changed its traditional approach towards African politics and played a dynamic role in establishing a new global order despite persistent challenges in the world.

Keywords Turkey, Turkish foreign policy, African Union (AU), African               Organisations, cooperation, foreign policy

How to cite:

Sıradağ, A. (October 2020) Turkey's Engagement with the African Organizations: Partner or Competitor? India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 76, No. 4, pp. 1-16.

Please click the link below to find out more information about my article: 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0974928420963321

The dynamics shaping Turkish African Policy and Turkey’s Approach towards the Western Sahara Conflict

AFRICANA STUDIA

Revista Internacional de Estudos Africanos/ International Journal of African Studies

The Centre of African Studies of Porto University (CEAUP)
Centro de Estudos Africanos da Universidade do Porto (FLUP)

Abstract:

This research examines the factors and the dynamics that shape Turkish Foreign Policy (TFP) towards Africa. The study highlights that there are the five important factors affecting TFP in Africa. The first factor is that Turkey’s historical legacy has paved the way for strengthening relations with Africa. The second factor is that the changing domestic dynamics in Turkey has been a significant driving force to engage with the African continent. The third dynamic is a new geopolitical balance of power emerged in the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in 2011 that forced Turkey to look for the new economic and political allies in Africa. The last factor is the impact of globalization. Due to the process of globalization, Turkish NGOs, think tanks, and economic associations have become more active players in shaping TFP towards Africa.

This research also explains Turkish foreign policy approach towards the Western Sahara conflict. Turkey’s strong economic and political relations with Morocco has limited Turkey’s active involvement towards the Western Sahara conflict. Furthermore, the many actors’ involvement in the conflict undermines Turkey’s engagement in the Western Sahara.

Keywords: Turkey, Africa, Turkish foreign policy, Western Sahara conflict

How to cite: Sıradağ, A. (2018). The dynamics shaping Turkish African Policy and Turkey’s Approach towards the Western Sahara Conflict. Africana Studia, Vol. 29, pp. 157-167.

Please visit the below links to find out more about the article:

https://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=fef39c9c-8cc8-4bb2-8b17-e2bbe955efcb%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=asn&AN=137885105

http://www.africanos.eu/index.php/en/africana-studia-2/numeros-anteriores/860-africana-studia-n%C2%BA-29-saara-ocidental-as-pol%C3%ADticas-do-impasse