From partisan interventions to mediation: The changing roles in Turkish foreign policy

This thesis seeks to assess whether third parties intervening in conflicts can play both partisan and non-partisan (mediator) roles, and interrogate the effects of playing both roles in global conflicts. The thesis adopts a qualitative content analysis approach. This research method has come into wide usage in International Relations research in recent years and describes a constellation of analytical approaches ranging from interpretive analyses to strict textual examinations. The study is related to third-party conflict intervention and its impact on international and regional politics. As a third-party actor, this thesis argues that the role of Türkiye has been changing as partisan or mediator depending on Türkiye's national security interests and the power projection of the other major actors which intervene in the specific conflicts. To explain and understand third-party conflict intervention, there are four cases have been tested and discussed; First, Türkiye plays a partisan role in the ongoing Libyan conflict by deploying military forces to support the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in its fight against the Libyan National Army (LNA). Secondly and thirdly, despite facing opposition to its military incursions in Syria and Iraq, Türkiye continues to play partisan roles in the two conflicts by deploying military forces against the PKK and its affiliate, the YPG. Finally, Türkiye plays a non-partisan role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine by offering to serve as a mediator on a wide range of issues, including a possible cessation of hostilities and a return to the negotiating table.