A text-as-data analysis: Turkish bilateral investment treaties over time

This study presents the first systematic investigation into the design of Turkish Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) through the lens of computational analysis. By constructing an extensive dataset of 3102 BIT texts, the text-as-data methods employed allow for mapping BIT content automatically and capturing nuanced differences in treaty design, offering variables for more accurate predictions of treaty evolution. It adopts the binary evaluation model that highlights the presence or absence of treaty provisions, thereby aligning more closely with the operational realities of international law. This nuanced approach has enabled a detailed mapping of Turkey's BIT content, illuminating how its investment treaty design has evolved in accordance with both global investment law trends and the nation's specific economic and legal imperatives. The findings establish Turkey as a discerning participant within the global BIT framework, adept at conforming to international norms while innovatively adapting to regional developmental and policy necessities. This analysis provides a benchmark for Turkey's strategic approach to international investment agreements and its engagement with the global investment regime.