A role theory analysis of Bolivia-Turkey relations: Examining bilateral relations in the context of Turkey`s Latin America policy and Bolivia`s Middle East policy

Even if the origins of Bolivia and Turkey diplomatic relations can be traced to the 1950`s major advances took place just in the last few years. In 2018 Turkey opened its Embassy in La Paz and one year later Bolivia`s President Evo Morales visited Ankara and met with President Erdogan. It was the first time in the history of both countries that a meeting at the presidential level took place. The objective of the thesis is to analyze the development of this relation within the broader picture of Bolivia`s foreign policy towards the Middle East and Turkey`s foreign policy towards Latin America. More specifically, the thesis will examine Bolivia and Turkey own national role conceptions, their role in each other regions, their role expectations (perceptions) and enacted roles towards each other. In order to do that, apart from the bibliographic consultation –which is scarce-, interviews were made to the main diplomatic representatives involved in the development of the relation. Also, as a way of measuring the perceptions Bolivia has about Turkey and vice versa, questionnaires were handled to young people in both countries. Finally, speeches of Bolivia`s President Morales and Turkey`s President Ergdoan about the subject were analyzed. The research found which enacted roles by Bolivia and Turkey is compatible/incompatible and how the enactment of more specific roles, from the part of Bolivia, can be beneficial for the relation. Also perceptions/misperceptions about both countries were identified. Finally, suggestions were given about how Bolivia`s foreign policy towards the Middle East in general and Turkey in specific can improve. In the case of the bilateral relation with Turkey, opportunities in the areas of trade, tourism, culture, academics, connectivity and solutions for the drug trafficking problem were identified.