Türkiye's security perception and policies in the post-Cold War era

This thesis examines the scope and transformation of security within the discipline of International Relations. The changing conditions of security, particularly from the Cold War period to the post-Cold War era, have made it difficult to establish a universally accepted definition that is recognized by everyone within the discipline. During the Cold War era, security was primarily perceived in terms of military threats, while in the post-Cold War period, military threats took a backseat. With the changing international system, security threats have become more diverse. In Türkiye as well, during the Cold War era, security was predominantly perceived as military threats, but in the post-Cold War period, this perception continued to exist, and it was also adopted as the most significant security threat. The institutional structure and foundation of Türkiye's security culture and security policies have been influential in the adoption of a traditional security understanding that solely encompasses military threats. This understanding has played a significant role in the implementation of security policies both during the Cold War period and in the post-Cold War era. The aim of this thesis is to examine and evaluate Türkiye's foreign and security policies in the post-Cold War era within the frameworks of both traditional and evolving security understandings. It seeks to analyze and assess the policies in light of these different security perspectives. Within this context, it has been concluded that in the 1990s and during the period of the Justice and Development Party, Türkiye's security policies involved both military measures and cooperation methods with other states in the region.