The decision-making process of Turkey deploying Turkish troops to Korea

Abstract

This thesis examines the foreign policy decision-making process and its functioning in Turkey (especially in Turkey’s troop deployment decisions) within the context of the Korean War. Turkish Foreign Policy (TFP) shifted with the changes in the international era after World War II. The threat perception increased resulting in Turkey joining in the United Nations and sending its troops to Korea in order to support the USA and to join NATO. The decision of sending Turkish troops to Korea was given and executed by a few leaders governing Democratic Party. Besides the disputes on the legality of the decision held at the Turkish Assembly the main argument was on the political outcomes (being excepted to western security institutions). So, by underlining how the decision was given, the governing party leaders were criticized rather than the decision itself. In the postCold War era, Turkish Foreign Policy was released from Cold War burdens and foreign policy options multiplied.