The effects of terrorist incidents in Turkey on defense expenditures

While the concept of terrorism emerged during the French Revolution, violent acts that could be considered terrorism were encountered before this period, and the lack of consensus on the concept made combating it quite difficult. Especially after the September 11th attacks, the world's perspective on terrorism shifted, and efforts to combat it began to increase. A country's continued existence depends on its military establishment and defense spending. Terrorist threats also threaten the very existence of countries, forcing them to increase security measures and reorganize defense spending. An increase in terrorist incidents within a country creates a vulnerability in the form of unmet security needs. Meeting these needs generally involves military equipment purchases, border security, intelligence activities, and counterterrorism operations, which in turn leads to increased resources allocated to these activities. Terrorism is a factor that leads to significant shifts in countries' defense policies and budgets. Therefore, the economic impact of terrorism is felt not only in the defense sector but also in general public policies. An effective counterterrorism strategy should aim to both meet security needs and ensure economic sustainability. Defense spending has become essential for Turkey, which has been fighting terrorism for many years. The purpose of this study is to determine whether terrorist incidents in our country have impacted defense spending. The perception of terrorism in Türkiye, the terrorist acts that have occurred, and the development of the defense industry are examined. Terrorism and defense are examined in Turkey and globally, and the relationship between terrorist incidents and defense spending is evaluated through a literature review.