State identity, energy security and foreign policy: A comparative analysis of Germany and Turkey

This thesis aims to examine the interaction between Turkish and German state identities and energy security perceptions, and reflections of this interaction to foreign policy behaviors in the context of social constructivism. In this direction, the two countries' energy policies, market structures and relations with international organizations were examined based on their state identities in the post-Cold War period. The study is based on two basic questions: What is the interaction between state identity and energy security of Turkey and Germany? And what is the interaction between energy policy and foreign policy of these countries? In this thesis, process tracing and critical discourse analysis methods were used. In this context, it was seen that Germany adopted a norm-oriented energy policy within the framework of the state identity and this energy policy was reflected in a similar way on its foreign policy. On the other hand, Turkey's energy policy is shaped around the realist power parameters and in this sense the two countries' energy security perceptions differ. This thesis consists of seven chapters. Following introduction, second chapter will include conceptual and theoretical framework, then methodology will be introduced. Chapter four and five will examine Germany and Turkey in terms of state identity, energy security and foreign policy. In chapter six the two countries will be compared and last chapter will summarize the main findings.