Field Of International Relations Research Articles

The Importance of Soft Power in Türkiye’s Foreign Policy in 2002-2022

After a difficult path of criticism and justification, the concept of soft power has found its place in the international academic environment and has given a new breath and creative motivation to important scientific research in the field of international relations, which aims to create new concepts that can respond to the challenges of the modern world order. Along with the world powers, this concept was thoroughly taken up by Türkiye, which had the historical, cultural and geographical resources to put it into practice. A large number of neighbors and a complicated history of relations force Ankara not only to rely on traditional ways of diplomacy, but also to find other forms for the successful realization of its foreign policy interests. Compared to Turkish foreign policy before 2002, Türkiye’s soft power has increased significantly since the Justice and Development Party came to power and has become one of the priorities of its foreign policy strategy. It is important to emphasize that state and non-state institutions, which are the main instruments of this policy, do not compete with each other but successfully complement each other. Türkiye has ambitiously sought to create its own original model of “soft power,” with an emphasis on historical heritage and cultural commonality. Türkiye’s toolkit for realizing its soft power is quite extensive. Türkiye adopts the best practices of leading international actors and actively implements its own approaches and understandings with a focus on culture, state and non-state organizations, and education policy. In this context, soft power policy for Türkiye has proven to be very viable and attractive. Türkiye’s soft power potential, which has been successfully manifested from the Balkans and the Middle East to the Caucasus and Central Asia, has serious cultural and historical foundations and contributes to the promotion of Turkish interests in areas of special interest. Over the past two decades, Türkiye’s soft power policy, which is based on historical-cultural and religious traditions, geographical and economic resources, has become one of the main directions of its foreign policy.

THE ANALYSIS OF ROBERT COX'S CRITICAL THEORY: THE INHERENT SUBJECTIVITY AND PURPOSEFUL NATURE OF THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS


 
 
 Robert Cox's assertion that “theory is always for someone and for and some purpose" is a fundamental tenet of political science and international relations, emphasizing the inherent subjective and purposeful nature of theoretical frameworks. This study critically examines Cox's contribution to International Relations (IR) through critical theory. This study is based on a qualitative research approach and uses an extensive literature review to gather relevant information, thorough analysis of existing journals and books, providing a comprehensive understanding of Cox's critical theory and its impact on the field of IR. The finding of this study highlights the need for continued evaluation of Cox popular IR theory and the application of Cox's theoretical foundations to deepen understanding of the world. Cox's critical theory brings new perspectives and contributes significantly to the diversity of theoretical frameworks in IR. This study highlights the transformative impact of Cox's critical approach and its relevance to shaping contemporary debates in the international relations. 
 
 

The Interplay Between International Relations and Science, Technology and Innovation: An Analysis of Embraer’s International Partnerships

International partnerships have been fundamental to Embraer’s technological advancement. The very creation of the company was only possible due to prior support received from specialized institutions in countries such as the United States, with governmental support. Even so, academic works on Embraer focus very little on its international agreements. This article maps and systematizes literature on international partnerships involving Embraer retrieved by Scopus, Scielo and the CAPES Thesis and Dissertation Catalog. In addition to presenting quantitative data that corroborates the finding on low participation of specific literature on international partnerships involving Embraer, this article demonstrates that almost none of the articles retrieved by the search are from the field of International Relations. In general, concepts and theories on which the mapped literature relies assume a purely transnational component in the partnerships without taking into account, for instance, the role of states in supervising international knowledge flows. Contributions made by the literature, while relevant to understanding business partnerships involving knowledge flows, do not necessarily consider the uniqueness of such flows when they cross national borders. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the mapped literature does not take the partnership axis (North-South or South-South) as a relevant variable for effectiveness.

Decisiveness in Domestic Public Policies

Abstract Constructivists in the field of International Relations assume that states not only seek to ensure their physical security but also try to secure their identities by maintaining durable behavioral patterns in their relations with other actors. The dominant identity of the Israeli state is associated with policies characterized by resoluteness and decisiveness. This article argues that this state identity also manifests itself in the domestic sphere and presents case studies of two such manifestations. The first pertains to the development of Israeli offshore gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean while the second deals with the country's COVID-19 pandemic containment strategy. The two cases are similar in the decisive and extraordinary character of the measures that the government attempted to use. At the same time, in the first case study this attempt was mostly unsuccessful and only in the second case the decisive stance was effectively implemented.

The International Political Theory of Dialogue of Civilisations: Philosophical Issues

Abstract Starting from a conception of dialogue as “fusion of horizons” inspired by Gadamerian hermeneutics this article aims to give a philosophical foundation to the argument for a dialogue of civilisations within a broad set of theoretical debates that have taken place in the fields of philosophy, political theory, and international relations. Such a discussion contributes to the international political theory of dialogue of civilisations as an argument for the construction of a multicultural peaceful international society against the background of our troubled contemporary global politics.

Whether the China Threat Theory Represents Chinas International Role Analysis Based on the Transformation of Chinese Foreign Policy

In recent years, China has actively adjusted its foreign policy, integrated into the international order with a more open attitude, and strived to play Chinas role in the region and the world and shoulder Chinas responsibilities. However, the United States and some of Chinas neighbors view Chinas rise with suspicion and fear, and vigorously promote the China threat theory. Based on this background, this paper puts forward the research topic of whether the China threat theory represents Chinas international role from the perspective of the transformation of Chinas foreign policy. As a rising power, it is of great significance in the field of international relations to understand whether the purpose of Chinas rise poses a threat to other countries and the current international order. This paper uses the qualitative analysis method to analyze and study the South China Sea dispute and the Diaoyu Island issue as cases, and draws the conclusion that the China threat theory is not Chinas current international role.

Meditations on ‘international friendship’: Situating twinning in global struggles for solidarity, recognition, and restitution

Abstract This article takes the practice of twinning as an entry point for problematising conventional accounts of ‘international friendship’ in the field of International Relations. In particular, the paper zeroes in on three examples of twinning practice, past and present, that have challenged the status quo: twinnings established in opposition to the Contra war in Nicaragua; twinning as an act of recognition for communities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and twinning as a vehicle for the recovery and return of sacred artefacts to post-colonial Kenya. Through these examples, it argues for an alternative conceptualisation of international friendship – one that pushes beyond the methodological nationalism and ontological rigidity of dominant approaches.

Artificial Intelligence and its Impact in International Relations

In an era marked by remarkable technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful force in the realm of International Relations. AI's adaptability, which includes automating the processes of foreign policy-making and improving predictive analytics, is swiftly reshaping the ways in which countries participate in international affairs. The impact of AI is notably observed in activities like data analysis, policy assessment, conflict resolution, cybersecurity, language translation, and disaster response, all of which streamline diplomatic activities and enhance communication. This article discusses how AI technology will shape the field of International Relations.

Through the Eyes of Attackers: A Comprehensive Analysis of Cybersecurity Strategies in International Relations

In this interconnected global landscape, where technology forms the foundation of diplomatic interactions, understanding the complicated methodologies of cyber attackers has become of utmost importance. This study delves into the core of worldwide cybersecurity, introducing a unique viewpoint that involves an exploration of offensive tactics from the vantage point of those orchestrating attacks. Employing an interdisciplinary methodology, the research amalgamates case studies, expert publications, and the analysis of threat intelligence to decode the incentives, strategies, and aspirations of these digital assailants. By closely examining historical events like the Stuxnet incident, the investigation reveals the evolution of offensive cyber activities and their consequences in the international relations field. Through a comprehensive assessment of attack avenues, techniques, and the motivations driving attackers, this analysis brings to light the complicated interaction between cybersecurity, global politics, and the stability of nations. By anticipating emerging trends in cyber threats and delving into regional perspectives, this study offers a forward-focused outlook on the challenges and possibilities that lie on the horizon. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the pressing requirement for international collaboration, innovative policy development, and proactive measures to navigate the complex terrain of offensive cyber tactics and to ensure the preservation of the future landscape of international relations.

Analysis of the Relations Between China's Ruling Parties and Russia in the Context of Diplomacy of Heads of State

Cooperation between parties is an important part of the party’s work in the field of international relations. As Chinese-Russian relations deepen, the CCP actively promotes inter-party exchanges with Russia and promotes comprehensive, wide-ranging and multi-level cooperation between Chinese and Russian political parties. Interaction of political parties of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China plays an important role in relations between the two countries and within cooperation «One belt – one union» (“一带一盟”). Since the XVIII Congress of the Communist Party of China, its Central Committee, led by Xi Jinping, has comprehensively promoted great-power diplomacy with Chinese specificity in a new era based on an accurate understanding of changes in the world structure and China’s overall development trends. Xi Jinping's diplomatic thinking has become a guide to action for Chinese-specific diplomatic work. In practice of cooperation between the political parties of China and Russia, Xi Jinping used the diplomacy of the heads of state to ensure clear leadership of cooperation between the political parties of China and Russia, led the direction of cooperation between the political parties of the two countries, planned the goals of cooperation between their political parties and determined the future of bilateral strategic partnership. Diplomacy towards the head of the Russian state is a concrete example of Xi Jinping's diplomatic thinking and an important innovation in the diplomacy of a great power with Chinese specifics.

Sovereignty and imperialism: International business, finance and the position of Sudan in the British empire

This article examines the relationship between Sudan and Egypt during the colonial period to explore how control over international business and finance integrated Sudan within the British empire. We examine how the locus of power and control over these economic factors began to change, and how this altered the position of Sudan. To do this we explore three areas. First, we examine how the field of international relations has considered the question of sovereignty. We use this to problematise how imperial relationships influence notions of sovereignty in the context of a colonial state. Secondly, we examine the business history of Sudan in relation to the structure of the Sudanese economy. Third, we explore how finance shaped the relationship between Sudan and the British empire. Finally, we discuss the implications of the business and financial history of Sudan in relation to the historiography of imperialism and coloniality in the MENA region.

Reflex to turn: the rise of turn-talk in International Relations

The field of International Relations (IR) is being spun around by a seemingly endless number of ‘turns’. Existing analyses of turning are few in number and predominantly concerned with the most prominent recent turns. By excavating the forgotten history of IR’s earliest turns from the 1980s and tracing the evolution of turn-talk over time, this article reveals a crucial yet overlooked internalist driver behind the phenomenon: the rise of reflexivity. Rather than emerging in the 21st century, turn-talk began at the end of the 1980s as a series of turns away from positivism and towards reflexivity. Cumulatively, this first wave of turns would denaturalise IR’s state-centric ontology while enshrining reflexivity as a canonical good among critical scholars. By the mid-1990s, however, these metatheoretical critiques of positivism had produced a substantial backlash. Charged with fostering an esoteric deconstructivism, a new generation of reflexivists set out to demonstrate the feasibility of post-positivist empirical research. As a result, IR’s turning also took on a different form from the 2000s: whereas the first wave of turns had mounted an epistemological and methodological attack against the positivist mainstream, the second wave set about bringing new ontological objects under the scrutiny of reflexivist scholars. This shift from anti-positivist to mostly intra-reflexivist turning was facilitated by the institutionalisation of critical IR as a major subfield of the discipline. It is the privileged position of reflexivity among critical IR scholars that is the condition of possibility for endless turning, accentuated by mounting pressures to demonstrate novelty in an increasingly competitive environment.

NEWS TREATMENT ON THE PADMA BRIDGE INAUGURATION: A STUDY ON GLOBAL MEDIA PERSPECTIVE

The Padma Bridge inauguration, a landmark infrastructure project, has garnered significant attention from media outlets worldwide. This study delves into the diverse global media perspectives surrounding the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. The study's main objective is to evaluate and quantify the global media coverage of the Padma Bridge's inauguration on June 25, 2022 with a focus on how the international media views the event. About 40 news articles from various globally famous news media were chosen to be used in the study's qualitative and quantitative analysis. This study attempts to move forward with data gathered from various international news media through purposive sampling by using Google Search Engine Customization from June 24 to 30, particularly the 25th, which is the date of Padma Bridge's inauguration searching by using keywords like ‘Padma Bridge inauguration related news coverage in global media’. By employing a comprehensive content analysis approach, this study examines how the event was covered by media outlets across the globe. Findings reveal that media treatment of the Padma Bridge inauguration varies significantly based on geographical location, political affiliations, and cultural factors. While some media outlets highlighted the inauguration as a symbol of economic progress and regional connectivity, others critiqued the project's cost and environmental impact. The chosen reports' most focused subject, as shown through analysis is Bangladesh's potential and audacity to fulfill its’ people’s dream. Additionally, it provides insights into the complex interplay between media, politics, and public perception of major infrastructure projects. This study also contributes to the fields of media studies, international relations, and infrastructure development, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that influence global media coverage of significant events like the Padma Bridge inauguration.

Nigeria's Multilateral Approach in West Africa: A Case Study of Cote D'Ivoire Electoral Violence

This study interrogates the role of Nigeria through the multilateral organizations in West Africa with a particular reference to Cote d'Ivoire's elections crisis from 2010 to 2011. The violence occurred due to President Gbagbo's refusal to concede power to the election winner, Allassane Ouattara. However, through the influence of the multilateral organizations, Nigeria intervened and returned Cote d'Ivoire to democratic stability. Consequently, this study critically analyzed the role of Nigeria through the multilateral approach in Cote d'Ivoire's electoral violence. It also assessed how the use of Nigeria's relative material preponderances contributed to quelling the violence. This study used historical and exploratory qualitative techniques from the extant literature of high-ranking bodies. Thus, the initial literature search brought many articles, books, reports, and newspapers and selected only those with the needed historical and analytical depth in line with the subject matter. Also, role theory was applied in this study to aid analysis, and the data source for this study was analyzed thematically. The study found that the Cote d'Ivoire election crisis was animated due to former president Gbagbo's refusal to give power to the winner, Ouattara. Further findings revealed that the constitutional court illegally nullified Ouattara's legitimate votes favouring President Gbagbo. Also, the concept of national identity or Ivorite compounded the problems of the violence. This study will benefit researchers in the field of political science, international relations, and policymakers. Finally, other areas for future research include Nigeria's roles through the multilateral organization in other parts of West Africa.

Theoretical Foundations of the Foreign Policy of Latin American Nations

Autonomy has always been the focus of theoretical research in the field of international relations and foreign policy of Latin American countries. At the same time, deepening and strengthening cooperation with neighbors in the region has traditionally been an unshakable priority for all Latin American states, around which their entire foreign policy was built. The article considers the crucial stages of development that the concept of autonomy has gone through in the framework of international relations theories developed by Latin American scholars. Simultaneously, the changing role and essential characteristics of integration are studied as a process that modifies its direction under the pressure of various external and internal forces. The author analyzes the key theoretical approaches of Latin American countries to the study of international relations and foreign policy in the period from the middle of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. The research also considers the determining factors influencing the evolution of the intra­regional and extra­regional directions as regards the foreign policy of the states in the region. Identifying the system of elements that form the core of modern Latin American foreign policy and combining global and national components allow us to determine the substantial changes in the paradigmatic nature of international relations, which is the key to understanding the modern activities of Latin American countries in the international arena, substantiating the relevance and novelty of this study. The author examines five main stages in the evolution of the concept of autonomy, which have become a reflection of real historical events. Each of them is interconnected with the concept of integration in its own way: the first stage was characterized by the prevalence of a realistic approach; the second stage was marked by the strategy of "development coming from within"; during the third stage, the concept of relative autonomy dominated; the fourth stage was characterized by the dominance of two approaches: separatist and relative; the fifth stage takes place under the slogan of the concept of «liquid autonomy».

Social Tradition: Theoretical Problems and Practical Implementation

The article examines the historical, logico-conceptual and politico-pragmatic content of an ideological trend, such as “social traditionalism”. The idea of combining socialism with the core tradition of Orthodoxy can be traced back in our history to the last quarter of the nineteenth century. In Konstantin Leontiev’s statements, in particular. Later on, it appeared among the members of the “Christian Brotherhood of Struggle”: Valentin Sventsitsky, Vladimir Ern, and the Priest Pavel Florensky. Nikolai Berdyaev upgraded this idea to its logical fi nish, by describing the phenomenon of “Russian communism” as the metamorphosis of Russian religiosity: they created the Third Rome, but got the Third International instead. Alexander Shchipkov’s thesis, according to which the traditional ideological paradigm of modernity (“liberalism — conservatism — socialism”) is undergoing the reformatting stage and is being replaced by the “nationalism — socialism — traditionalism” paradigm, implies that “liberalism” is being driven out by “nationalism” as its alternative. However, in the fi eld of international relations, “nationalism” can be interpreted as a projection of liberal individualism justifying the right of a national state to freedom, that is, sovereignty. Against the background of evaluating the outcome of the Cold War, the USSR breakup can be understood as the victory of liberalism over socialism. Today, China embodies the idea of socialism, while the liberal West faces inner culture wars: liberalism is being attacked by supporters of multiculturalism and the “cancel culture”. In the course of evaluating the prospects of “social traditionalism” as a Russian state ideology, one should take into account that both the United Russia party and President Vladimir Putin defi ne their ideological position as “conservatism”. At the same time, the latest edition defi nes presidential conservatism as a political management technology. In this regard, the defi nition of traditionalism as a “set of methods” and “procedures for ethicization” proposed by Alexander Shchipkov can also be considered technological rather than ideological. But in this case, a contradiction emerges: social traditionalism claims to replace conservatism precisely as an ideology, striving to synthesize socialism and Christianity. Socialism becomes the result of an arbitrary choice procedure, while Christianity remains a tradition, but not in the sense of the basic defi nition of traditionalism.

Social Sciences in the USSR/Russia: History and Current State

Social sciences largely reflect how one’s own society and the world are perceived. The article discusses the development of social sciences in the USSR, and then in Russia, focusing on four disciplines: political science, sociology, international relations, and psychology. The article shows that in the USSR, the theory of activity was developed in the field of psychology on the basis of Marxism and has gained recognition around the world. In the field of international relations in the USSR, the thesis was put forward about the peaceful coexistence of states with different social systems; today, with proper development, this thesis could be productive for understanding the coexistence in the modern world of various civilizations. The article also shows that after 1991, a significant breakthrough was made in terms of the institutionalization of the social sciences. From the subject point of view, social sciences now are not much different from those in other countries. In political science, international relations, and, partly, in sociology, there is an intensive discussion about whether Russia should integrate into global science or build its own social sciences.

Narratives of Global Order and Re-Ordering from the Global South

The global order is shifting from a unipolar world dominated by the West to a multipolar one with Asia emerging as a major centre of gravity. Narratives of order and re-ordering are powerful tools that shape policy agendas and enable local, national, and global actors to make sense of contemporary or historical orders or changes in those orders. Such narratives emanating from the Global North have dominated Social Science fields such as International Relations (IR). Global South narratives of order have received much less scholarly attention. This article contributes to filling this gap by examining narratives of global order and re-ordering from state and non-state actors in the Mashreq, India, the Maghreb (focusing on Morocco), and Iran. The cases provide a diverse array of narratives for interdisciplinary analysis, highlighting the importance of understanding global narratives from non-Western perspectives. Taking stock of such perspectives in policy and academic analyses is essential for methodological, conceptual, and theoretical pluralism in Social Sciences in general and for the task of globalizing the field of IR in particular.

Critical Whiteness Studies and International Relations: disputing narratives and challenging epidermalized structures of power in teaching, research and extension

This paper aims to demonstrate that Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS) may provide useful tools for interpreting epidermalized relations of power in the international system and for challenging the racial dynamics that cut across the teaching, research and extension dimensions in the field of International Relations. This study shows that CWS have potential to support the implementation of Law 11.645/2008, which requires the inclusion, in a cross-curricular manner, of education regarding ethnic-racial relations in higher education curricula in Brazil. 
 In this paper, I provide an introduction to the field of CWS, drawing primarily from the Brazilian afro-feminist contribution in pretuguês of Cida Bento, with her concept of narcissistic pacts of whiteness. Methodologically, this article makes use of a decolonial approach, based on bibliographic and documental research techniques. This paper stresses the importance of naming and historicizing the power of whiteness, to understand how it hegemonizes itself in space and time, and through which means it does so. It is a novel and original study, which innovates by introducing Black epistemologies and stating their applicability as regards teaching, research and extension, opening paths to destabilize the colonial support beams of the IR field.

From Non Alignment to Multi Alignment: India’s Balancing Power Strategy

India, now the world’s fifth-largest economy and a rising power in the world started its journey in the international realm by choosing to remain strategically autonomous under the umbrella of the Non-Alignment Movement. India, also a founding member state of the Non-Alignment Movement stayed true to its decision for more than two decades by not moving into any of the two primary security blocs (US, USSR) during the Cold War. India, then under the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru decided to delve into the waters of non alignment because it simply wanted to stay away from another looming crisis that was the Cold War. Jawaharlal Nehru and the foreign policy makers of India had already seen two bloody world wars and the disaster that was brought by it. Quite understandably, India didn’t want themselves to engulf in another global conflict. However, with the swiftly changing times in the global order, Indian Foreign Policy went through tremendous changes. New opportunities arose for new partnerships. From Non-Alignment in the 20th century, Indian Foreign Policy has come far with its outreach much broader and well-versed in contemporary times. India understood the need to multi align themselves after the fall of Berlin Wall which saw the end of the erstwhile USSR. A broken Russia was not in the interest of India but they had to quickly change their strategy to fill the massive vacuum of support left by the USSR. That is when, India slowly started to reach out to West and it’s allies. Indian Foreign Policy has truly moved on from Nehruvian Idealism to Strategic Realism and Economic Pragmatism. India now has strong relations with multiple poles of power while still exercising its strategic autonomy without much external influence from a certain or any blocs of power. To study the following, relevant data or references will be taken from various reliable books written by experts in the International Relations field. References will also be taken into account from journals, articles and other published research papers from scholars.