Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1SBU503Turkish Foreign Policy3+0+03702.01.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (With Thesis)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course examines the fundamental concepts, theoretical approaches, practical applications, and cause-and-effect dynamics of Turkish foreign policy by analyzing its historical trajectory from the late Ottoman period, through the Republican era, the Cold War, and the post-Cold War period up to the present day. It aims to provide an understanding of the continuities and ruptures that have shaped Turkish foreign policy.

Furthermore, the course critically explores Turkey’s participation in alliances and the treaties it has signed, with particular attention to their interaction with domestic politics.

In this context, the course investigates the relations between Turkey and regional as well as global powers, analyzing how international developments have influenced Turkish foreign and domestic politics in political, economic, military, and international relations dimensions.

By tracing the evolution of Turkish foreign policy from the late Ottoman Empire to the present, the course seeks to convey the fundamental facts, approaches, and practices of Turkey’s external relations, encouraging students to interpret them within a broad analytical framework.
Course Content This course aims to examine the fundamental characteristics and principles of Turkish foreign policy within the context of international and regional dynamics. It explores Turkey’s foreign policy trajectory from past to present, analyzing its foundations and relations with international actors—particularly neighboring states—through both historical and theoretical perspectives.

The Turkish Foreign Policy (TFP) course identifies and discusses the periods in which foreign policy theory and practice have undergone significant transformations since the establishment of the Republic. It focuses on the major changes in Turkish foreign policy shaped by the international system and regional factors, while also addressing Turkey’s participation in alliance systems, its relations with international actors and neighbors, and the key foreign policy issues and decision-making processes that have emerged over time.

By combining historical analysis with theoretical inquiry, the course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the continuities and ruptures in Turkish foreign policy and situates Turkey’s external relations within the broader framework of global politics.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture
Discussion
Case Study
Research Assignment
Small Group Work
Group Work
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Burçin ULUĞ burcin.eryilmaz@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Course Notes -

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Assignment 10 % 30
Attendance 14 % 10
Practice 1 % 10
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
26
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 5 75
Assignments 1 40 40
Presentation 1 10 10
Final examination 1 40 40
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 7 210

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Students can define the fundamental concepts of Turkish foreign policy
2 Students describe how Turkish foreign policy is institutionally organized from the perspective of administrative science.”
3 Students can identify the practitioners of Turkish foreign policy.
4 Students can analyze and discuss the historical development of Turkish foreign policy from the 19th century to the present.
5 Students can critically evaluate the reasons behind Turkey’s participation in alliances and the treaties it has signed.
6 Contemporary international and regional political developments are interpreted from the standpoint of Turkey.
7 Learners are able to analyze the interconnections between Turkish foreign policy and domestic political dynamics.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Course Introduction and Overview - -
2 “Fundamental Principles of Turkish Foreign Policy; The Foreign Policy of the Ottoman Empire (1774–1918) Oran (2013): 46-53 Karpat (2022): 161-176 Hale (2013): 23-48 -
3 War of Independence, Recovery and Diplomacy (1918–1939)” “Turkish Foreign Policy during the War of Independence and the Founding Years of the Republic (Atatürk Era Turkish Foreign Policy Hale (2013): 49-76 Balcı (2013): 27-52 Armaoğlu (2021): 13-62 -
4 The Second World War Era and Turkish Foreign Policy (1939–1945) Hale (2013): 77-101 Armaoğlu (2021): 105-167 Balcı (2013): 55-76 -
5 Turkey’s Foreign Policy during the Early Cold War (1945–1963)” Hale (2013): 103-131 Balcı (2013): 79-104 -
6 Turkish Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era (1964–1990): Global Transformations; Regional Conflicts; Turkey and the Middle East; The Cyprus Question Hale (2013): 133-167 Balcı (2013): 107-180 Karpat (2022): 177-247 Armaoğlu (2021): 171-257 -
7 Post-Cold War Turkish Foreign Policy: Global Transformations; Strategic Opportunities; Domestic Debates Hale (2013): 169-193 Balcı (2013): 183-230 -
8 Mid-term Week/Resarch Paper Submissions - -
9 Turkey–West Relations in the Post-Cold War Era: Turkey–U.S. Relations Hale (2013): 195-212 -
10 “Turkey–West Relations in the Post-Cold War Era: Turkey–EU Relations Hale (2013): 213-234 Balcı (2013): 233-254 -
11 Turkey and Regional Politics in the Post-Cold War Era: Greece, Cyprus, Balkans, Russia, Black Sea, Caucasus, Central Asia Hale (2013): 235-270 -
12 “Turkey and the Middle East in the Post-Cold War Era Hale (2013):271-296 -
13 Turkish Foreign Policy in the AKP Period: Principles, Formations, and Practices Balcı (2013): 257-316 -
14 Research Paper Presentations - -
15 Research Paper Presentations - -

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
C1 4 3 4 2 3 2 3 4 3 4 3
C2 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 5 4 4 5
C3 3 3 4 4 4 2 4 4 5 3 5
C4 5 2 5 3 5 2 5 5 5 4 4
C5 3 5 4 4 3 1 2 5 4 5 4
C6 3 3 4 5 4 3 3 3 3 4 3
C7 4 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 5 3 4

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant