Trade union diplomacy as an element of soft power: the case of Memur-Sen

This dissertation aims to conceptualize "trade union diplomacy" as an analytical category by examining the growing intersection of soft power, public diplomacy, and civil society. The central research question concerns how trade unions position themselves as actors of influence in the international system, through which mechanisms they generate soft power, and in what ways this capacity contributes to public diplomacy. Memur-Sen is selected as a case study due to its extensive organizational network, multidimensional engagements. The study consists of three main chapters. The first chapter discusses the concept of power, the distinctions between hard, soft and smart power, and the historical evolution of public diplomacy. It further analyzes the foundations and models of public diplomacy and explores the role of civil society—particularly trade unions—in diplomatic processes. The second chapter examines major international labor organizations such as the ILO, ITUC, WFTU and TUAC, and positions Memur-Sen within these multilateral structures. The third chapter presents qualitative field research based on in-depth interviews conducted with trade trade unionist. The thematic content analysis reveals that trade union diplomacy contributes to soft power through mechanisms such as global solidarity, knowledge sharing, sustainable cooperation, advocacy, shaping of labor standards, democratization and the expansion of civil society space. Participants emphasize that trade unions play unique roles in public diplomacy through informal representation, educational diplomacy and civil diplomacy initiatives. Findings indicate that Memur-Sen enhances Türkiye's soft power capacity by fostering multi-layered networks and long-term societal engagements. In conclusion, this dissertation highlights the increasing role of trade unions in international affairs and offers a theoretical and empirical contribution to the conceptualization of trade union diplomacy.