Analyzing "T" in MIKTA: Turkey's Changing Middle Power Role at the UN


Oğuz Gök G.

Middle Powers in Global Governance: The Rise of Turkey, Emel Parlar Dal, Editör, Palgrave Macmillan, London , London, ss.133-161, 2018

  • Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
  • Basım Tarihi: 2018
  • Yayınevi: Palgrave Macmillan, London 
  • Basıldığı Şehir: London
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.133-161
  • Editörler: Emel Parlar Dal, Editör
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

MIKTA countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Australia) are generally defined as emerging middle powers based on their international behavior rather than their material power. Although sharing some degree of middle power identification, big disparities exist among MIKTA countries with respect to their political and economic systems, domestic priorities and problems, and their regional context which make it difficult to talk about a common MIKTA identity/role. This study draws on social constructivism to problematize and analyze Turkey’s changing middle power role among MIKTA countries through their debates at the UN. To this aim, the paper will conduct a detailed and comparative discourse analysis of Turkey’s and the other MIKTA countries’ statements at the opening sessions of the UN General Assembly from 2001 to 2017 with respect to their social claims about themselves, including the way they define their (1) roles in global governance, (2) attitude toward international order, and (3) the nexus between their global and regional role. By doing so, the paper will theoretically question and empirically analyze whether there exists any meaningful evidence demonstrating Turkey adopting a middle power role that could create the opportunity for converging interests among these countries. Making a comparative analysis of Turkey and the other MIKTA countries could also provide some provisional answers regarding limitations as well as opportunities involved in future state of the emerging political structure of MIKTA.