CONSTRUCTIVIST ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY TÜRKIYE–EU RELATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RUSSIA–UKRAINE WAR

Abstract

Contemporary Türkiye is one of the greatest powers on the international stage. It has significant influence over the Black Sea region - It is considered to be the number one military force in the area. In addition, it is a key member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which increases its role in the global context.

The Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022 poses a major threat to the Black Sea Region and, consequently, also represents a threat to Türkiye as a regional leader. Within the framework of this war, Türkiye positions itself as a kind of a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. Its foreign policy is ambivalent - it actively supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, but at the same time, it continues its economic and political cooperation with Russia.

The above-mentioned political decisions of Türkiye often become subject to criticism in the West. On the one hand, the European Union actively calls on Türkiye to join the economic sanctions imposed against Russia and expresses dissatisfaction with Türkiye’s stance toward Russia, but on the other hand, the Russia-Ukraine war revealed the scale of the threat posed by Russia, its implications for the European continent, and at the same time - Türkiye’s role in managing the conflict.

The history of the European Union and Türkiye dates back to multiple decades, during which it has undergone many changes. The theory of Constructivism of International Relations allows us to analyze these changes in detail. According to Constructivism, the self-identity of states plays a large role in the conduct of their foreign policy. Türkiye’s self-identity is primarily connected to the Black Sea region. For Türkiye, the loss of regional leadership would entail not only political but also existential threats. On the other hand, the war also presents great risks for the European Union and its collective identity. The Russia-Ukraine war allowed us to view EU-Türkiye relations from a different perspective. It demonstrates that modern states and institutions make political decisions primarily on the basis of their self-identity and their sociological perceptions of other states.