TÜRKİYE’S ROLE IN SHAPING REGIONAL POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC) AND THE ASTANA PROCESS

Abstract

Turkish foreign policy has repositioned itself at various times in response to global and regional developments, particularly in the Middle East. This study argues that Türkiye’s diplomatic behaviour reflects a dual orientation: while it employs normative, multilateral, and soft power instruments within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it adopts a more security-driven and pragmatic approach in the Astana Process. The central hypothesis is that these two cases, taken together, reveal Türkiye’s evolution toward a multidimensional and multi-actor strategy that balances value-based diplomacy with hard power imperatives. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative and comparative approach, relying on secondary sources, official documents, and statements by government officials to analyse Türkiye’s roles, strategies, and limitations across both platforms. By linking the OIC and the Astana Process, this article not only highlights the contrast between institutional multilateralism and crisis diplomacy but also contributes to the Turkish foreign policy literature by demonstrating how Türkiye simultaneously pursues normative legitimacy and security imperatives in its regional engagements.