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Maritime security in somalia: Implications for foreign policy
This dissertation delves into the issue of the Somali maritime security and how the foreign policy can be utilized as a tactical tool to handle it. Located in a strategically important position along key global shipping routes, Somalia has been exposed to persistent threats such as piracy, poaching of fishes, smuggling of arms and destroying the environment coupled with lack of proper governance, a history of war, and inadequacy of enforcement capabilities on the sea. The analysis is based on Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) and the application of the theory of realism to assess the foreign policy reactions of Somalia in ensuring that the Somali maritime sphere is safe. This dissertation employs a qualitative case study approach supported by elite interviews and secondary international reports to examine how Somalia's foreign policy actors—both domestic and external—shape maritime governance. The findings show that although Somalia actively participates in international cooperation, it struggles to achieve policy coherence due to weak institutional coordination, fragmented governance, and high dependency on external actors. The central argument advanced here is that Somalia's maritime insecurity persists not because of a lack of international engagement, but because the state lacks the institutional capacity and strategic autonomy required to translate foreign policy actions into effective maritime governance. This dissertation that we argue that Somalia should pursue a foreign policy by informed realists and pragmatically aligned to exploit external cooperation to build capacity and at the same time to strengthen sovereign institutions in an effort to realize long and self-sufficient, maritime governance. Keywords: Maritime security, Somalia, Foreign Policy Analysis
Active neutrality as a foreign policy: The case of Morocco in Abraham Accords
Active neutrality is one of the realist foreign policies adopted to address a conflict that a state sees its security interests are indirectly affected by. In such conflicts, maintaining/establishing relations with both parties of the conflict is a survival must. According to Realism's IR school of thought, securing security is an act of survival in an international system characterized by anarchy. States will do whatever it takes to ensure their survival. This thesis takes Morocco as case study with regards to its handling of the Palestine/ Israel conflict as a manifestation of this policy. It found itself dealing with a situation that jeopardizes its security interests; a Cold War with Algeria. It adopted active neutrality as a response to the conflict it had to have a stance on to ensure its security. The question therefore is: How can active neutrality as a foreign policy orientation explain Morocco's foreign policy decisions during the Abraham Accords of 2020? As related; in what sense, active neutrality can make sense of evolution of Moroccan foreign policy? A comparative analysis is conducted via the qualitative content analysis method. The study compared Morocco's stance on the conflict three years before and after the Abraham Accords in the context to its Cold War with Algeria. The thesis concludes that some policy changes, especially with regards to normalization with Israel is detected in the post-Abraham Accords in the foreign policy speeches coded. The essence of this change signals more of a smooth transition instead of a dramatic policy change. Therefore, one can suggest that active neutrality policy orientation is built in a continuing manner of which indicators can be detected in both periods focused on in this thesis. Other than that, the thesis could not detect any other changes, particularly with regard to its solidarity with Palestine; it appears that Morocco has been consistent with its stance on the conflict throughout the study's time frame. Morocco's normalization with Israel in exchange for the US' recognition of the Morocaness of the Sahara, is explained by the defensive realist theory as a way for Morocco to maximize its security via active neutrality; a policy that is regarded as moderate in the context of its Cold War with Algeria.
The EU's climate leadership: The case of Serbia
The contemporary world is facing climate change and global warming as an emerging challenge throughout the globe. The climate change and its impacts are not limited to a specific border or region, and its effects are universal. Considering this fact, as a response, the international community including influential powers like the US and the EU attempted to establish an international coping mechanism. The international efforts against climate change entered a new era with the adoption of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. Since the adoption of UNFCCC which is considered as the foundation of the international regime against climate change, several initiatives have been taken with the formation of international agreements. The EU and the US are both significant actors in international efforts against climate change. EU has considerable market power and economic influence internationally and the US possesses political and economic capabilities around the world. Since the US has already withdrawn from the "Kyoto Protocol" and "Paris Agreement" once, the role of the EU as a climate actor gained more weight in the last two decades and at some point, is portrayed as a climate leader in the international arena. A climate actor tends to cope with climate change as a pioneer without aiming at guiding others, but a leader tends to influence others and attempts to attract followers. Bearing in mind the EU's policy to extend its values, the Republic of Serbia as the largest and most populated country in the Western Balkans region, was chosen as a case study. Building upon the leadership concept in International Relations, this thesis conducts a qualitative in-depth study using 'qualitative content analysis' as a suitable research method to find out how the EU's climate leadership on energy transition contributes to Serbia's climate policies. The thesis argues that the EU seeks international leadership thorough its climate actions.
Nigerian immigration to Canada: The case of Calgary
Several governments so far have exploited immigration to fill workforce shortages in numerous professions in their countries. Migration, particularly from underdeveloped to developed countries, has been heavily restricted in order to admit applicants with the required expertise to fulfil the needs in the labor market. This "economic pool" of "chosen" migrants accounts for about seventy percent of immigration in the Canadian case. The causes and consequences of migration, economic and rational explanations notwithstanding, cannot be fully captured without taking into consideration of the socioeconomic as well as psychological and personal factors as to why immigrants want to move. This thesis investigates the socioeconomic circumstances of the recent young migrant group from Nigeria to Calgary, Canada. Through looking into the immigrants' motives for migration, experiences both before and after the migration, and expectations as well as problems in Calgary, the thesis displays that migration is a multifaceted process which opens up new opportunities yet includes also insecurities for the migrants. In order to improve the insight on migrant groups' experiences, the thesis will conduct a qualitative methodology with interviews and interrogate whether the future prospects of the migrants continue to be promising despite certain problems. KEYWORDS: Calgary, Canada, Immigration, Nigeria, Young migrants.
Multicultural responses to diversity in internationalschools: A case study in Antalya
This study examines how educational staff responds to growing diversity in an international school environment in Antalya. The thesis provides insights into relevant understandings and practices through in-depth participant observations and semi- structured interviews. Berry et al.'s (1989) four-fold model of acculturation strategies provided a conceptual scheme for organising the research in the beginning. The thesis depicts multiculturalism as the main strategy in the case studied within the scope of this research and provides additional insights on how such multiculturalism is practised in this particular setting. This thesis adds to the literature by bringing a sophisticated depiction on the usage of different sorts of multiculturalism under the main category of co-existence of differences. In addition to more classical understandings and practices of multiculturalism, there are examples of controlled, selective and failed multiculturalism. (Classical) multiculturalism is characterised by a varied student population, the ability to navigate and comprehend multiple cultures, and the implementation of educational programmes that promote diversity. Controlled multiculturalism emphasises the restrictions imposed by more national policies and practices. Selective multiculturalism is the case when there are tendencies to favour some cultures. The study provides theoretic and empirical insights on the prospects and problems in an increasingly diverse educational setting.
"Darling of the West" to "Rogue Nation": An analysis of Zimbabwe-Britain post-colonial relations before and after the implementation of the FTLRP between 1980 and 2003
When governments create goals, institutions are formed to back these goals which are then implemented through policies. In Zimbabwe, the Land Reform Programme was an institution created as an engine of post-colonial emancipation and development. It was agreed upon by two governments being the Zimbabwean government and the British government. This research investigates the dynamics of the relations between the two governments throughout the implementation of the land policy while focusing on the factors that contributed to the failure of the institution. In chapter one, the background of the Zimbabwe-Britain relations is given as well as the method of investigation which is Within Case Process Tracing. The second chapter provides comprehensive arguments between the research question and the scholarly perspectives on the factors which contribute to the failure of institutions. These factors are personal interest, the path dependence theory and the hypothesis on the behaviour of post-colonial institutions. Thereafter, a chronological historical account of the programme is provided then finally, the theories are tested against the evidence collected through process tracing to establish which factors led to the failure of the Land Reform Program as an institution.
Operational code analysis for the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: An attempt to understand the outcome of the new NAFTA
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada and is known for his profound liberal ideals and liberal foreign policy orientations. This thesis examines Justin Trudeau using the Operational Code Analysis (OCA) framework, which is a political psychology specialty. This thesis aims to see if there is a link between Justin Trudeau's political ideas and his foreign policy behavior toward the United States from 2017 to 2021. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that Justin Trudeau has a positive correlation with the norming group of other North American presidents. In this context, the study uses operational code analysis on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an attempt to decipher the black box of Trudeau's leadership style and foreign policy preferences in light of NAFTA's most recent amendment.
Citizenship perceptions and migrant experiences of Turkish immigrants in Hungary
This research analyzes the sense of belonging, citizenship perceptions and migrant experiences of Turkish migrants in Hungary. Turks who comprise a Muslim immigrant group in Hungary which is a host country of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim political rhetoric under the leadership of the Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This is a case study which focuses on Hungary and its setting between the illiberal populist regime and liberal values of the European Union. This study explores the potential impact of the illiberal populist regime on the perceptions and experiences of these immigrants. In depth interviews were conducted with twenty Turkish immigrants who live in Hungary in order to understand their perceptions and experiences in terms of belonging, citizenship and migration. The empirical findings of the research demonstrate that i) citizenship perceptions of Turks are shaped by their nationalist sentiments towards Turkish citizenship, ii) Turks are a particular group separate from other Muslim immigrant groups in Hungary, iii) Orbán's anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim political rhetoric does not have a negative impact on the experiences of Turkish immigrants in Hungary.
An analysis of Russia's foreign policy towards the united states of america since the end of the cold war
Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has switched back and forth between harboring friendly and non-friendly relations with the West. Therefore, its foreign policy towards the West has changed multiple times. Despite the head-turning changes in the ideologies which has driven Russia's relations with the United States of America (USA), few studies have examined how the USA is included and portrayed in Russia's changing foreign policy. This thesis aims to analyze the Russian foreign policy towards the USA after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The study suggests that the Russian government is aiming to increase its influence over the globe. Russian foreign policy strategy is to keep the US out of its regional territory and raise its own influence to keep balance of power with the West.
An analysis of China's approach to Liberal International Order from theoretical and empirical points of view
Liberal International Order (LIO) remains embedded in the post-war US hegemonic order. This thesis delves into China's approach towards LIO from a theoretical and empirical perspective. A descriptive analysis is conducted utilizing secondary research. International relations theoretical understanding of socialization is considered. The evolution of the LIO, the domains of the LIO and its constitutive norms and principles are discussed. Socialization of China to the norms and institutions of the elements of the order is analyzed. The findings conclude that China pursues a diversified strategy to safeguard its national interests while striving to obtain a leadership position within the international order. Neither is China working to suppress the order nor is it staying as a passive subject to it. As an increasingly influential nation, China has displayed its willingness to challenge, mold and reform the aspects of the order which do not align with its values or threaten its national interests.
Pakistan siyasetinde Afgan mültecilerin çerçeveleri
Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for more than forty years. Nevertheless, an endless welcome is hardly the case in Pakistan especially with the increase in terror attacks in Pakistan since 2008. Political parties and Pakistan Army called for repatriation of refugees back to Afghanistan. The study tries to find out the common frames used for Afghan refugees in Parliament, Facebook, twitter and press releases, whether the frames vary across political parties and whether the framing change over time or with change in institutional settings e.g. parliament, social media? The study examines the way Pakistani parliamentarians, mainstream political parties and other relevant actors such as Pakistan Army frame Afghan refugees in their discussions and the reasons behind possible variance. A qualitative content analysis is conducted on parliamentary debates, social media and in press releases to achieve this goal. The study covers a time period of more than a decade, from 2008 to 2020.
The impact of revolutions in military affairs on warfare and international relations
Technological changes that increase an army's firepower by an order of magnitude and are directed by the military rather than socio-economic circumstances are called Revolutions in Military Affairs (RMA). An RMA goes towards unmanned warfare, where humans are gradually removed from the battlefield, or to an increasing of manned weapons by assisting them with Unmanned Vehicles, Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems and Artificial Intelligence Systems. The thesis argues that AI based weapons are superior to the manned counterparts due to their inhumane ability to process information in a fast manner and cooperate with each other in ways humans cannot. It also argues that removing soldiers and manned weapon system from warzone would make warfare more humane, as the savagery of war does not come from the conflict, but through human emotions such as fear and the will to survive. Machines lack these emotions. Lastly, the thesis states that while these changes could make warfare more humane, it would also make it more frequent, as removing humans from battlefields would decrease the cost of war in both human and financial terms, making it easier for states to go to war.
An historical analysis of Turkish foreign policy toward the Asia Pacific during the reign of The Justice and Development Party's government
This thesis focuses on the historical analysis of Turkey's relations with three actors in the Asia Pacific as China, Japan, and ASEAN. From the Turkish perspective, the country considers the Asia Pacific in a state of rising. The three actors were explicitly chosen because China and Japan are considered non-western rising powers, and both countries have established a strategic partnership with Turkey. Meanwhile, ASEAN is one of the most critical non-western organizations in the region, in which Turkey has also established a strategic partnership with three of the ASEAN's member states such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. This thesis argues that Turkish foreign policy towards the Asia Pacific within the reign of the AKP government has undergone several transformations compared to its previous government. This thesis demonstrates that Turkey's engagement towards the region is highly motivated by economic motivation, allowed by the systemic changes at the international level and the transformations that occurred domestically.
Türkiye'nin Bundestag'taki Türk kökenli Alman milletvekilleri tarafından temsiliyeti
This thesis investigates the representative patterns of the members of parliament (MPs) of Turkish origin in the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany. Unlike earlier works on substantive representation by minority MPs, this study focuses on representative patterns on the country of origin rather than the immigrant minorities settled in the new country. The research aims to understand the framings of Turkey and to explain the reasons behind possible variances. Findings are based on a qualitative content analysis on the parliamentary work of German MPs of Turkish origin. Parliamentary questions submitted during the 18th (2013-2017) and 19th (2017-2019) legislative periods are analyzed to achieve this goal. The researcher aims to examine the role of the political party, ideology, gender identity and contingency as factors leading to variation in framings on the country of origin. It aims to understand how transnational ties shape and influence the framing and approach towards the country of origin. By departing from the available literature, it can be assumed that the MPs of Turkish origin can adopt moderate and/or positive framings towards their country of origin. However, the content analysis on parliamentary questions asked by those MPs reveals that the tone towards the country of origin is critical and varies by the content in the parliamentary question, gender, and even political ideology.
An analysis of interaction between tourism and public diplomacy in the context of manufactured soft power: The case of Turkey
This study emphasizes the concepts of "soft power" and "public diplomacy" which have gained importance in today's global political system, especially in recent years. After the bi-polar Cold War era, the multi-polar and crowded international atmosphere have emerged in the liberal world order. The new order has begun to force nation states to restrict the use of hard power capabilities in a traditional way. New concepts and factors, which are the outputs of globalization and digital age, have required the use of new generation methods and tools in international relations. Thus, it is intended to ensure that interstate relations are performed in a sustainable framework without the risk of destroying life on earth, with its high destructive power, military technologies and without undermining commercial dependencies. In this study, the concepts of soft power and public diplomacy, shaped in a country's image and perception, is examined closely in the particular case of Turkey with its interaction with tourism. Especially in recent decades, tourism has become a significant sector of the global economy. Turkey, with its high potential for tourism, is being investigated in the study and as to whether tourism itself is used effectively in its strategies. The study evaluates state policies implemented in practice, by conducting in-depth interviews with people in suitable positions to ask, without relying solely on related literature. Additionally, the strategic approach and coordinated policies are being tracked by interviews with tourism operators, based on common beliefs and benefits. Turkey claims to be applying effective public diplomacy. This study conducts surveys and interviews with people from Norway, England and Germany, to test the success of Turkey in these areas. Interviews and survey groups are selected according to their interaction with the country and provide an evaluation of Turkey's public diplomacy and promotional activities in different categories and levels. Overall, it is aimed to measure the country's success and capability in reaching out to the target audience regarding Turkey's image and perception abroad.
Dystopia in contemporary Xinjiang: Human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims by China
Recently human rights organisations have criticised the discriminatory framework being drawn by the Chinese government in the autonomous region of Xinjiang, China, against the minority Uyghur Muslims. Reports from Human rights organisations like Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) have surfaced where Chinese government is seen using brute force, repression, and detention to control movement within the autonomous region of Xinjiang. According to the Chinese government, the strict measures being implemented on the Uyghurs are so done to counter terrorist activities within the north-western region. The state of China is strongly criticized and condemned by European Parliament and is accused by Uyghurs of human rights violation, who have fled to foreign countries from Xinjiang fearing persecution by the Chinese government. This thesis is intended to draw a profound summary to criticise and question the government about its plans for Xinjiang and the Uyghur Muslims. The purpose of writing this thesis is to bring certain important issues under the microscope so as to analyse the extent of China's approach and aim to control a particular ethnic and religious community in Xinjiang. The thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the situation of Uyghurs in particular and the human rights violations in China in general.
Emotional factors as determinants of political participation: A qualitative study of youth in Antalya, Turkey
The aim of this study is to analyze the emotional factors affecting the different forms of political participation of Turkish youth. The Turkish youth included in this study are aged between eighteen and thirty-five, they reside in three central municipalities of Antalya (Konyaaltı, Muratpaşa and Kepez), and they are either a party member or not. Qualitative research methods, especially in-depth interviews, are used in the study to evaluate the impact of emotional factors on the forms of political participation. Political participation forms are examined in two categories as conventional political participation and non-conventional/alternative political participation. Antalya and its three central municipalities were selected by convenient sampling method to control for contextual factors. In-depth and group interviews were used to collect data. Thirty-five people, eighteen of whom are party members and seventeen of whom are not members of political parties, participated in the study. The findings of the study show that positive emotional factors are effective in party members' preference for conventional political participation methods such as attending party rallies, taking roles in youth wings and participating in civil society activities. On the other hand, the non-members' preferences on conventional and unconventional modes are affected by the level of feeling of positive and negative emotional factors. Other factors that are focused apart from emotional factors are the number and effectiveness of peer relationships, alienation, problem-focused motivations, socio-economic status, and perception of civic duty.
UNICEF'in Bolivya ve Brezilya'da eğitimin geliştirilmesi üzerindeki etkisine ilişkin karşılaştırmalı bir çalışma
Education is key to the development of individuals and states. Local educational programs with universal principles are currently being developed across the world through international organizations. This research aims to examine the role of one particular international organization, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), in developing education with a gender focus in Bolivia and Brazil. Among many mechanisms that IOs use to influence policies of nation-states, four mechanisms are chosen and analyzed to identify the ways in which and the extent to which UNICEF contributed to education policy in these countries: 1) advocacy and awareness, 2) experience and knowledge, 3) financial aid and donations, and 4) legitimization through positive rhetoric. In addition, gender inequality in education and UNICEF's efforts to reduce the gap were examined. The case studies, Brazil and Bolivia, are analyzed through the Qualitative Method of Summative Content Analysis of newsletters, articles and educational reports found on the official pages of UNICEF's local offices and the respective governments. When comparing the cases, which present divergent historical, socioeconomic, cultural, gender inequality and educational characteristics, findings show that the influence that UNICEF has is stronger in Brazil than in Bolivia in terms of creating and changing policies. UNICEF Brazil focuses on seeking regulatory changes with strong local participation. This feature has allowed the agency to participate alongside national policy makers with direct influence. On the other hand, in Bolivia, though there is active participation, its influence occurs indirectly, and no recent policy changes have been found. The differences between the two countries appear in the government-UNICEF relationship, even though UNICEF has a long-standing relationship of trust with both.
Understanding how the bond between the populist leader and "The people" is formed: Hugo Chávez and Donald Trump cases
This thesis questions the formation of the bond between the populist leader and his/her followers. This relationship is key for understanding the populist phenomenon. Until now, studies have mostly addressed populist leader's charisma as an explanation for his/her appeal to the people. The present study employs a selection of election campaign speeches from two of the most controversial populist figures of recent times, Hugo Chávez and Donald Trump, and it focuses on the populists' construction of the leader-people bond. For this purpose, the study utilizes directed content analysis method. The findings point out five mechanisms which are incorporated into populist leaders' narrative, and which are used to create the leader-people bond. These are: self-construction as "the leader," the non-verbal communication, the construction of the concept of "the people", the identification of a crisis and the people's mobilization. The study concludes by arguing that the leader-people bond is constructed with these mechanisms, yet the weight of these mechanisms changes from one political/cultural context to another. Also, the strength of this bond depends on the people' effective engagement with these mechanisms.
State building in Afghanistan with the engagement of the international community
The present research has focused on the role of the international community in state building process while considering the case of Afghanistan in particular and to what extent the process of state building in Afghanistan has resulted in security for the people of Afghanistan. The study has used qualitative research methodology to address the research questions. The primary sources of data collection were interviews from 15 experts and academicians using snowball sampling technique while the secondary sources of data collection included books, journals, newspapers and articles. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The study has found effectiveness of state building process pertaining to security for people in Afghanistan. It was revealed that security, education and infrastructure situation is improving in Afghanistan however, there are still areas where international community has to play more active role. The study supports the argument that any intervention by the international community without full commitment and better allocated resources is bound to failure as is the case in Afghanistan. KEYWORDS: Afghanistan, International community engagement, International relations, State building.
The role of Erasmus mobility in the European Union's soft power: The cases of Akdeniz University and Antalya Bilim University
Utilizing Joseph Nye's concept of soft power, the research examines the extent to which Erasmus mobility program contributes to the European Union's soft power in the cases of Akdeniz University and Antalya Bilim University. The research finds that Erasmus mobility positively affected the perceptions of the participants about the European Union. Approximately 95% of the respondents recommended the Erasmus program. About 80% of the participants wish to go to Europe again. More than 50% of respondents plan to live or work in Europe. 95% of respondents are attracted by European culture. Most Erasmus participants are committed to European shared values. After Erasmus, the rate of students who define themselves as international or global citizens increased to 50%. This research finds that freedom, rule of law and prosperity are the prominent values. Erasmus beneficiaries emphasize that the level of democracy and freedoms, quality of education and technological developments are better in Western Europe. Respect and openness highlighted by respondents within the scope of European traditions show that political liberalism and democratic values are embedded in the culture. Turkish students had more vivid impressions of European culture, and their awareness of cultural differences increased more than foreign participants. Erasmus program is effective when political values and cultural components of soft power are evaluated. Data was insufficient to make an assessment on the foreign policy component.
Iranian influence and covert intentions toward Afghanistan
Iran has been a key player in the political settlement of the Middle East, Persian Gulf, and to some extent Central Asian countries. In terms of Iran-Afghanistan ties, both countries consider themselves as the origin of Persian culture. Currently, Iran and Afghanistan share common cultural, linguistic, religious values, economic interdependencies, as well as share a 900 km porous border. The purpose of this study is to examine the Iranian meddling foreign policy, particularly in Afghanistan's domestic and foreign affairs. Having a porous border, historical and multilateral ties, and Iranian regional objectives transforms Afghanistan's power settlement as a key driver for Iranian foreign policy. As a result, to safeguard Iranian security concerns, economic ambitions, and national interests in the region, the power settlement in Afghanistan crucially matters for the Iran regime. Seeking Iranian foreign policy and regional intuitions instigate Tehran to get involved in Afghanistan's internal and international affairs. Keywords: Iran, Afghanistan, Intervention, Border, Regional Objective
Turkish-American relations during the Cold War from Russian perspective
This thesis gives the outline of the Cold War, after reading which you will understand the essence of the war between the two super powers and special role of Turkey. Relations between Turkey and the USA in the context of the Cold War are also examined here. Also the process of developing these relations between the two countries. The uniqueness of this thesis lies in the sources of literature, this issue was studied on the basis of Western literature, in particular American literature. This study includes Soviet and Russian literatures, also a Russian perspective to the study of relations between Turkey and the USA at that time. Thus, the hypothesis of the work is that all the time the relationship between Turkey and America was considered from the American perspective, but this article also considered from the Russian perspective. Keywords: Turkey, the USA, Soviet Union, Turkish-American relations, Cold War