Civil Society in Turkish Foreign Policy
摘要
This chapter examines the evolving role of civil society in Türkiye’s foreign policymaking, highlighting both continuity and change across different historical phases. It begins with a brief overview of the development of civil society in Türkiye and the gradual inclusion of non-state actors in foreign policy processes since the 1970s. The analysis then turns to economic non-state actors and their growing role in shaping Türkiye’s external relations from the 1950s onward. Particular attention is paid to the increased visibility of civil society during the country’s European Union (EU) accession process in the late 1990s and 2000s, when engagement with European institutions and transnational networks expanded. The chapter further explores the 2010s as a turning point marked by the diversification of civil society actors and the emergence of government-organized non-governmental organizations (GONGOs), reflecting the changing dynamics between state and society in foreign policy. Throughout, it adopts a broad conceptualization of civil society, encompassing both traditional and hybrid forms of organization, to capture the varied ways in which non-state actors have contributed to, influenced, or interacted with Türkiye’s foreign policy. The chapter concludes by assessing the implications of a shrinking civic space under increasing authoritarianism and considers the prospects for civil society’s future agency within Türkiye’s foreign policy landscape.