The Role of religion in international relations : the case of the relations between Turkey and organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

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Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Department of International Relations, Turkey

Approval Date: 2013

Thesis Language: English

Student: Burcu Öztürk

Supervisor: ZANA AYŞE ÇITAK AYTÜRK

Abstract:

This thesis aims to research the role of religion in international relations by examining the relationship between Turkey and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). This relationship has strengthened since 2002. This thesis will analyze this relationship in three steps from the establishment of the OIC to present. First, the establishment of the OIC and Turkey’s OIC membership process, especially in terms of the principle of secularism will be analyzed. Second, the relationship between Turkish domestic politics and the OIC will be examined in terms of political parties. Finally, Turkey’s relationship with the OIC will be studied by asking whether the OIC has been used as a Turkish foreign policy tool. Taking all of these elements into account, the main concern of this thesis is whether or not religion is the driving force of these relations.