The use of terrorism as a foreign policy instrument: The PKK case

Terror can be expressed as fearful actions in the society as a word meaning. Terrorism, on the other hand, is a kind of armed action aimed at removing political power. Terror has become a method of being used instead of war by the influence of globalization and the International system. War is one of the tools of the Foreign Policy. It is therefore possible to assess terrorism among the means of the Foreign Politics. External support to terrorist organizations can be given by states as a means of their interests. In this study, it is mentioned how terrorism is used in foreign policy and the scope of external support given. In terms of limiting the work, PKK was chosen from terrorist organizations. The proposal that the PKK has taken since its inception has been examined in the process. In the theoretical part of the study, Idealism, Realism and Social Constructivism approaches were used in the theories of International Relations. Terrestrial definition, causes, types, state support and its place in international law are discussed in the study. The state was preferred as the analysis level. No state in the international arena wants to show that it supports terrorism. This support is political, economic and military. Some states do not recognize terrorist organizations as terrorist organizations. Here, the problem of definition of terrorism emerges as an antagonism. This causes terrorism and terrorist organizations to be perceived differently by the states. As a matter of fact, in the study, the statements of US, Russia, Iran and some European Union countries against the PKK terrorist organization were given. On the other hand, qualitative and partly quantitative research methods were used in the study. As a result, the PKK is receiving external support. On the other hand it is caused to remain in a difficult situation in Turkey's foreign policy.