Abstract
This study aims to analyze the current understanding, actors, and applications in Turkish public diplomacy of today. As an essential part of Turkish foreign policy to become both a formidable power in its region and a global actor, Turkish public diplomacy has seen a rapid rise in terms of its development since the early 2000s, becoming more institutionalized while increasing the number of applications. This chapter reviews and evaluates the current features of the afore-mentioned development and its outlook through scientific papers and arguments on Turkish public diplomacy, and the activities of Turkish institutions dealing with the selfsame subject. To this end, it utilizes qualitative research methods of literature review, document and descriptive analysis, with the hopes of contributing to the current international literature on the current outlook of Turkish public diplomacy.
TopIntroduction
Public diplomacy sprung into existence as an extension of developments in international relations and diplomacy, as a way for countries and governments to communicate and establish relations with the corresponding strategic bodies in other countries. The increasing political, economic, social and cultural relations on a global scale has transformed diplomatic relations into a subject encompassing societies and peoples, as opposed to how it was before, limited to official relations only between countries and governments. As the public face of diplomacy as we know it, we can describe it as the attempt of an international actor to manage the international environment by establishing close relations with foreign peoples (Cull, 2009).
On the one hand public diplomacy is a way for countries to transfer their policies, opinions and values into other societies, while also creating a suitable environment for nations and their peoples to establish and promote intertwining relations, and understanding between one another. Thus, it supports, in general the international relations and communications, and more specifically, the realization of the foreign policies and the national interests of a given country. As an extension of this fact, the public diplomacy of countries revolves around their foreign policies and aims, contributing to diplomacy and international processes. Many researchers have come to the same conclusion that foreign policy and diplomacy cannot achieve the desired results and be successful without the policies and applications of public diplomacy. Henceforth, this paper will put into perspective the general features, actors, and the current applications in Turkish public diplomacy, which in a matter of speaking is the public face of Turkish foreign policies. We aim to introduce the current approaches, actors, and the overall framework of the applications in the field of the subject matter of the study to both local and foreign researchers, thereby expanding the international literature public diplomacy via presenting perspectives from different countries with distinct applications.
Key Terms in this Chapter
International Broadcasting: Is one of the rather important fields of activity of public diplomacy, which came in to being for the first time with traditional media tools such as radio and television, but since then its range has expanded substantially to include digital media medium, such as the internet and social media platforms. Broadcasting activities that cross national borders are important in conveying the arguments specific to a country, their attractions, cultures, and values to target publics, and in combating disinformation. Thus, many countries with global and regional ambitions broadcast not only in globally spoken languages, but also in local languages depending on their target countries.
Soft Power: First introduced by Joseph Nye, refers to the ability of an actor to get things done without resorting to carrots and sticks, through cooperation or by using charm. Soft power uses agenda setting, attraction and cooptation as its spectrum of behavior. Institutions, values, culture, and policies are among its main sources.
Public Diplomacy: Is a concept that many define as any state-backed communication effort that aims to influence the perception, attitude and policies of target countries by establishing direct and sustainable relations with their publics. Today, in addition to each state, the private sector, NGOs, media outlets, universities and even citizens can be important actors of public diplomacy.
Cultural Diplomacy: Is the presentation of cultural elements such as art, science, education and technique in order to enhance the reputation of countries and build partnerships. These elements include many different areas such as language training, sports, congresses, scholarships, exchange programs, music, gastronomy, cinema, and humanitarian aid.
Exchange Programs: Are endeavors that allow individuals of all ages, especially academics and students, who want to increase their expertise in certain subjects within the scope of lifelong learning approach, to spend part of their education abroad through international agreements that promise to aid education. In addition to multilateral exchange programs, many countries seeking to become global and regional actors encourage foreign students to study in their countries through special scholarship programs in line with their public diplomacy objectives.
Humanitarian Aid: Are short-term effective activities such as saving lives, minimizing and/or eliminating difficulties and meeting the needs of victims during extreme living conditions, i.e., wars and conflicts. Furthermore, in regions where there are problems in meeting basic needs, especially food supply, any and all kinds of assistance provided in this time period until the life-threatening situation is eliminated are is counted as humanitarian aid.
Development Aid: Goes as far back as the launch of the American Marshall Aid, which aimed to rebuild war-torn Europe, making it as the pioneer of modern development aid. Today, many states provide development aid in regions in tandem with their political objectives. It is a long-term, systematic approach to solving problems and promoting economic, social, and political development.