Journal of World Sociopolitical Studies

Abstract While existing research highlights the role of drama in shaping Turkish national identity, the veracity of the narratives conveyed through plays has not been investigated. The present study fills this gap through examination of the portrayal of Iran in the play Awakening: The Great Seljuks. This focus is critical, given that Iran constitutes a contrasting other for Turkey, against which Turkish national identity and political narratives are reinforced. Using a narrative analysis, the study identifies and examines discrepancies in the portrayal of time and location, characters, and concepts. The research aims to analyze whether the drama series’ depiction of Iran aligns with historical accounts or reinterprets them through a contemporary lens to serve political-ideological purposes and to fit the series’ narrative agenda. The findings reveal a disregard for Iranian history and figures, often recast or appropriated to serve Turkish narratives, with Iranian characters reinterpreted and/or historical ideas reframed through a contemporary lens. This representation of Iran and Iranian elements is further underscored by the selective deployment of mythological motifs.

Abstract Türkiye’s energy diplomacy suffered from political volatility and shifting priorities since World War II, but the AKP’s 2002 electoral victory marked a transformative shift. The research aims to answer the question of what has been the strategies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the field of energy diplomacy to solve the country’s energy challenges? Using a mixed-methods approach (qualitative case study and quantitative statistical analysis) to assess its energy diplomacy the purpose is to determine how energy diplomacy has evolved under AKP rule and its implications for Türkiye’s energy security and geopolitical influence. Findings reveal a three-tiered strategy: (1) diversifying energy sources, suppliers, and routes to reduce dependency; (2) expanding transit infrastructure to position Türkiye as a Eurasian energy hub; and (3) leveraging energy ties to enhance geopolitical influence. These measures stabilized supply, attracted investment, and elevated Türkiye’s strategic importance. By integrating domestic reforms with assertive diplomacy, the AKP transformed Türkiye into a key player in global energy politics, balancing economic needs with geopolitical ambitions.

Abstract This article analyzes the transformation of Turkish foreign policy towards the Middle East during the turbulent years initiated with the Arab Spring. In due course, Turkish policy considerably shifted from proactive engagement with the region in the early 2000s to a bid to leading regional transformation, particularly in the initial years of the Arab Spring. However, the reversal of the Arab Spring increasingly presented a blowback for Türkiye’s regional engagements. The ensuing regional insecurity resulted in a realist turn in Turkish foreign policy, with frequent resort to military instruments and coercive diplomacy. Eventually, regional policies of Türkiye corresponded to the search for de-escalation and normalization within the emerging Middle Eastern order since 2020. The article argues that changing regional dynamics corresponding with domestic conditions influenced and shaped Türkiye’s policies towards the Middle East. Recently, under the impact of the regional-systemic pressures coupled with changing domestic conditions, recalibrating its regional engagement, Türkiye has prioritized the normalization agenda. It argues that while normalization agenda will remain an important objective for Türkiye’s regional policies, it will evolve in a partial manner, and case-by-case, conditional on the unfolding regional order and Ankara’s strategic priorities.