An analysis of Turkey's relations with United States from the perspective of neoclassical realism (2009-2020)

This study aims to analyze Turkiye's relations with the United States during the Obama and Trump eras from Turkiye's perspective. Neoclassical realism is adopted as the theoretical approach to achieve this goal. The main motivation for choosing neoclassical realism as the theoretical perspective of the study is that it takes internal variables into consideration when examining the foreign policies of states. In addition, this theoretical approach has been adopted because policies produced regardless of systemic pressures and incentives can be explained by neoclassical realism. The independent variables and systemic pressures to which Turkiye is exposed are discussed while covering the abovementioned periods. Besides, the opportunities and possibilities of the system are taken into account. Unveiling these systemic conditions and how the independent variables caused by the U.S. shape the perceptions of decision-makers in Turkiye and other intermediate variables is crucial. All these points are addressed in the study. The study examined the political frictions between Turkiye and the U.S. in the Obama and Trump eras. In doing so, it has incorporated the perceptions of decision makers and other intermediate variables that affect decision-makers as intermediate variables, which is an issue that neoclassical realism attaches importance to. The thesis tried to explain how Turkiye perceived the systemic pressures by the U.S. via the intermediate variables and how this perception effected the dependent variable. The main reason for Turkiye's political disagreements with the U.S. in the region is considered as the negative reflection of the crises in bilateral relations on the perceptions of the intermediate variables in Turkiye due to the U.S.'s apathy to Turkiye's security.