Examination of political and military cooperation in the neo classical realist framework: Organization of Turkic States

The aim of this thesis (study) is to examine the development of the military cooperation dimension of the relations between Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Krgyzstan, Uzbekistan and possible cooperation scenarios under an institutional structure in a theoretical frame. Accordingly, the question how does the transition in the international system transformed the security preferences of Turkic States lays the foundation of the research. The arguement to be formed from the neoclassical realist framework to the research question indicates that Organization of Turkic States (OTS) undertakes a significant role in the Turkic States' forming "low politics" yet struggles to transform it into "high policy" platform due to systematic limitations. Geopolitical positions of Turkic States intrigued both the regional and global actors from past to present and this condition raises the significance and influence of Turkic States day by day. In this context, the analysis of the processes that go to the foundation of OTS that emerged as a result of the desire to deepen the cooperation possibilities of Turkic Republics and institutionalisation stages is conducted. In this context, the military and political cooperations of the member countries will be discussed multilaterally. The suggestions on development of cooperation possibilities are made by determining the potentials of member countries in terms of military and defense industry. From this point of view, this thesis examines the discussion of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and alliance process under the roof of OTS Organization of Turkic States from the perspective of neoclassical realism.