The use of ethnosports in Turkey's public diplomacy process as an international public relations practice: World Ethnosport Confederation case analysis

In the context of the constantly changing geopolitical picture of the world, the issue of forming a positive image of the state as an effective tool for the realisation of national interests is becoming increasingly significant. In the modern era, even the most advanced countries cannot realize their national interests solely by positioning or using their military-political and economic power (traditional power). New ways of promoting the national interests and expanding the sphere of influence on the world stage are becoming more important. Public diplomacy is considered as one of the effective tool for achieving national interests and expanding the sphere of influence on the world stage. Over the last years, interest in public diplomacy has grown not only within the framework of scientific concepts, but in politics, politicians, journalists and the public as well. In our days, countries who claim to be global leaders put special emphasis on their public diplomacy tools. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in Turkey's public diplomacy and soft power. The country pays more attention to interaction with Central Asian countries. The study examined the Concept of public diplomacy, a new era in public diplomacy, the main approaches to public diplomacy, the disclosure of public diplomacy in the context of various disciplines, varieties and subjects of public diplomacy. The study also focused on sports diplomacy, its tools and two halves of the concept are described. However, in analysis of Turkey's relations with the Central Asian countries the political, economic and socio-cultural areas of each country was conducted. The representation of the World Confederation of Ethnosport and activities conducted in the countries of Central Asia. In the conclusion part, in line with the information obtained as a result of the methods used in the research, the sports diplomacy practices and the ethnosport policies of the World Ethnosport Confederation have been tried to be presented. Also attention is paid to the effectiveness of Turkey's sports diplomacy and the place has been given to some opinions and suggestions on the results generated.