Analysing the relationship between discourse and negotiation in the Peace Process (2013-2015)

This study examines the implementation methods of the negotiation strategy adopted by Türkiye in its fight against the PKK between 2013-2015, and the impact of this strategy on the goal of ending terrorism. While examples of state policies shifting from conflict to negotiation in response to terrorism are documented in the literature, this study examines how Türkiye's negotiation strategy in the Peace Process was implemented in practice. Qualitative analysis was used in this study. Within this method, statements by the ruling and opposition parties, state institutions, PKK, and national/international news were compiled. These texts were coded and analyzed using the MAXQDA program. The findings show that violence decreased during certain periods of the Solution Process, but a lasting peace environment could not be achieved due to reasons such as the uncertainty of the legal and institutional grounding of the process, lack of transparency, and the failure to sufficiently involve the opposition and social actors in the process. It was determined that the PKK's assessment of the process as a propaganda arena, its preservation of its armed capacity in the field, and this attitude combined with regional developments caused the government's discourse to evolve back into a security-oriented line. In conclusion, the study reveals that for negotiation strategies to be successful in Türkiye's fight against terrorism, the process must be supported by institutionalized, transparent, multi-actor, and confidence-building mechanisms.