An Assessment of Türkiye’s Public Diplomacy Activities after the Johnson Letter: Are Cultural Relations an Investment?

Authors : Fatih Baritci, Melih Duman

Pages : 89-98

Doi:10.21121/eab.20250106

View : 181 | Download : 97

Publication Date : 2025-02-04

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :For Türkiye, the year 1964 witnessed a significant break in its long-standing foreign policy approach. During this period, Turkish foreign policy, which was shaped around the Cyprus Issue, sought alternatives after the Johnson Letter. This study aims to examine various cultural activities carried out by Türkiye in 1964 and evaluate them in the context of public diplomacy. In this direction, firstly, the international political atmosphere of the 1960s was evaluated from the perspective of Türkiye. Later, sections of Türkiye’s important public diplomacy activities in different fields in the period from 1920s to the Johnson Letter were revealed. Finally, the report on cultural relations published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1964 was examined by documentary scanning method, and in this context, various public diplomacy initiatives were put forward in which the Cyprus Issue was at the center. As a result of the study, it has been understood that Türkiye invests in cultural and artistic activities in accordance with its political objectives within the scope of the maximum benefit strategy with minimum cost and makes positive contributions to the image of the country.
Keywords : Public Diplomacy, Türkiye, Cyprus Issue, Johnson Letter, Cultural Relations

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