Turkey As A Mediator

This book provides an overview of successes and failures of Turkey’s mediation initiatives in different fragile and post-conflict societies. It is the first of its kind to run a systematic analysis of Turkey’s peacemaking. This edited collection treats its readers with a variety of analyses on the dominant narratives that guide Turkish mediation, the tools used by the Turkish government, and Turkey’s evolving self-image as a mediator since the mid-2000s. The book sheds a critical spotlight on the learning curve of the Turkish Foreign Policy as it initiated and supported peace processes between the western Balkan countries, in the Middle East, in post-civil war Somalia, and in the nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1. The book concludes with a summary of assets, challenges, and opportunities for Turkey’s sustained emergence as a mediator in international politics.

"This brief critically examines a new area of activism in Turkey's foreign policy agenda: Turkey's rise as a mediator in regional and international crises zones. It contextualizes Turkey's reliance on a multitude of actors to support its mediation initiatives, most notably its vibrant civil society and NGOs, as a successful case of total performance, a principle forming Turkey's new foreign policy doctrine. The brief then outlines the broad frameworks and characteristics of Turkey's approach to mediation, as laid out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu. The brief takes a closer look at the case of Turkey's involvement in the attempt to seek resolution in the Afghanistan conflict and it illustrates a good example of Turkey's new style in mediation. The brief concludes with a discussion of the Friends of Mediation Initiative, launched under the UN framework through joint Turkish-Finnish initiative."--Abstract.

The book provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in Turkey’s labour dispute resolution system, and helps compare the Turkish system especially with those in European countries. Turkey passed a new Labour Courts Act in 2017, which changed Turkish labour law practice by introducing mandatory mediation for all labour disputes. The main objective behind this measure was to ensure that labour disputes are resolved more quickly and less expensively. The book was written specifically for lawyers around the globe who have to deal with Turkish law, especially those who are seeking to become specialists in dispute resolution law. In addition, it provides stimulating reading for laypersons who wish to learn what 'mediation and arbitration law are all about' in Turkey. Above all, it was prepared with a view to providing foreign investors and companies in Turkey with basic information on Turkish labour legislation.

This study investigates the mediations of 67 mediators from western Turkey and 38 Kurd mediators from eastern Turkey. Utilizing a Cultural Effects Model, we predicted and subsequently found that Kurd mediators - who are highly collectivistic and have a tribal-based social structure - more frequently emphasize harmony and stress the cost of the conflict to society. In addition, the Kurds more often rally third parties for the mediations, having them present at the mediation as well as relying upon their advice and assistance. In addition to the ethnic differences, we predicted and found that imams (mosque leaders) more frequently utilized religious-based tactics (such as walking under the Koran) than did their secular counterparts.

"In today's world there are serious problems in the regional and global systems. The end of the Cold War did not help much in regard to developing mechanisms to resolve those problems. The post-Cold War era continued to present big challenges, and the emergence of new issues complicated the deep problems in international politics. Ethnic, sectarian and religious clashes and geopolitical conflicts, as well as frozen conflicts, throughout the world are in need of effective mediation. In the changing security environment, in addition to bilateral disputes and state security, the security of individuals as well as crises sparked by nonstate threats further complicate this grim picture. In this period, in addition to the global economic crisis, the broader Middle East is experiencing a political earthquake creating new challenges that are domestic rather than interstate. The need for mediation is obvious in this new era. In the last three decades, Turkey's position has been based on the use of diplomacy in an efficient way to help resolve disputes and conflicts."--SAM website.

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the law and practice of international arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Turkey. It has been prepared with the contributions of twenty experienced Turkish practitioners and academics, all of whom are experienced experts in the field.