Balancing or bandwagoning in foreign policy: Turkiye-US relations (1960-1980)

This study examines the Turkey-USA relations between the years 1960-1980 through the lens of balancing and bandwagoning concepts within the framework of Neorealist theory, which emphasizes the role of power, national interests, and the global distribution of power in shaping international relations. The study evaluates the selected events and actions of both countries in this period through theorizing and evaluates them based on the principles of these concepts. The research aims to show that the Neorealist perspective is useful in understanding the actions and decisions of both Turkey and the USA in this period. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the Turkey-USA relations and the role of balancing and bandwagoning within the framework of the Neorealist theory in explaining the states' behavior in international relations in those years. Keywords: Turkey, USA, Neorealism, Balancing, Bandwagoning.