Evaluation of the Organization of the Turkic States in the Light of Integration Theories

Authors : Seyit Ali Avcu

Pages : 323-344

Doi:10.31679/adamakademi.1645742

View : 29 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Five Turkic Republics—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan—gained independence after the Soviet Union\\\'s dissolution. Discussions of a Turkic Union, akin to the EU, led to the establishment of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) in 2009, renamed the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in 2021. Its primary goal is to enhance cooperation among Turkic states. Founding members—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye—were joined by Uzbekistan in 2019. This article examines the OTS\\\'s current status and future through integration theories, primarily developed from the EU experience, such as Federalism, Functionalism, Neofunctionalism, Intergovernmentalism, Constructivism, and Liberal Intergovernmentalism. The study argues that the OTS aligns with regionalism, a state-led process creating formal regional institutions among at least three states, rather than regionalization, which involves increased interaction between adjacent states. The Turkic Union is a top-down process, better explained by Intergovernmentalism and Constructivism, as it is an intergovernmental organization rooted in cultural, historical, and religious ties. However, economic interdependence among members remains limited, with significant ties only between Türkiye and Azerbaijan in energy and transportation.
Keywords : Türk Devletleri Teşkilatı, Entegrasyon teorileri, Bölgeselcilik, Bölgeselleşme

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