Yunus Emre Institute as a soft power tool

Although the concept of public diplomacy has been used in the literature for approximately half a century, it is known that the activities it defines have been practiced in various forms throughout history. The main purpose of public diplomacy is to influence different societies and create positive perceptions of one's own country or culture. This influence is achieved through legitimate means by individuals and communities introducing themselves, their cultural values, and beliefs to others. In this context, when looking into the past, it is possible to establish a meaningful connection between many activities carried out in Turkish-Islamic history and modern public diplomacy practices as well as soft power applications. The efforts of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions during the process of spreading Islam can be considered the first examples in this regard. Following this period, the activities of Hoca Ahmed Yesevi are particularly noteworthy. Hoca Ahmed Yesevi equipped his disciples with a spiritual mission and sent them from Turkestan to the east, west, north, and south, including Anatolia, for the purpose of guidance. A significant number of these dervishes directed themselves toward the Balkans, where Islam had not yet spread, and introduced the local people to Turkish-Islamic culture through the teachings of Yesevi. These dervishes established lodges (tekkes) in the places they went, directly interacted with the local population, built inns and bridges, constructed mills, and provided various social services. Through these activities, they not only conveyed religious teachings but also contributed to social development and the establishment of peace and trust in the regions they served. These warrior dervishes won the hearts of the people with their exemplary lifestyles and behaviors, playing a significant role in the adoption and settlement of Islam in these regions. In this study, based on the concept of soft power in Turkish-Islamic history, the institutionalization process of the Yunus Emre Institute has been examined, focusing on its role and contributions as a cultural diplomacy and soft power instrument in promoting the country.