"Center-periphery" Relations in the Study of International Relations: Where is Turkey?

Abstract

"Standard" concepts and theories of International Relations have, over time, proven "increasingly irrelevant" in accounting for the "realities" of the developing world. The article discusses how Turkey's International Relations literature has responded to this issue by focusing on the example of the literature on "security". It is argued that Turkey is located in the "periphery" of International Relations, which is characterised by a hierarchical structure whereby the "center" develops the concepts and theories to be adopted by the "periphery". This argument is supported by a survey of the two oldest journals of International Relations in Turkey, namely, the Turkish Yearbook of International Relations and Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi Dergisi.

Keywords

International Relations Theories, Developing World, Security, Security Studies, Center-Periphery Relations.

Citation

Bilgin, Pınar, "Center-periphery" Relations in the Study of International Relations: Where is Turkey?, International Relations, Volume 2, Issue 6 (Summer 2005), pp. 3-14.

Affiliations

• Pınar Bilgin, Assistant Professor Dr., Bilkent University, Department of International Relations