Soft power of Turkey and non-governmental organizations: The case of IDDEF

Ismailaga is a religious community implementing faith-based activities at the domestic and international levels with the instrument of an NGO, IDDEF. IDDEF (The Federation of Organizations that Value Humanity) is one of the NGOs of Ismailaga conducting educational and humanitarian aid activities with the religious spirit of Sufism at the international level, chiefly in African and Asian countries. This study first explores the values of Ismailaga in creating a civil society and analyzes IDDEF's international activities affecting Turkey's diplomatic relations in the context of soft power. In this thesis, the conceptual and theoretical framework related to community, identity, and civil society is emphasized, and qualitative research is carried out using participant observation, in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and a literature review. The study describes the values and mentality of the Ismailaga community, which forms the center of IDDEF's activities, and analyzes IDDEF's international education and humanitarian aid activities based on religious, Sufistic, and ahlusunnah (orthodox) values, revealing how it affects Turkish foreign policy in the context of soft power.