The Place of International Relations Theories in Türkiye-Based Academic Journals

This study examines the position of theoretical debates in Türkiye by analyzing articles on international relations theory published in Türkiye-based academic journals. The research reviewed 6,105 articles published in 10 Turkish academic journals indexed in the Web of Science database, all of which directly or indirectly focus on international relations. Among these, 2,363 articles were identified as related to the field of international relations, and 354 were specifically concerned with international relations theories. Employing document analysis, the study finds that international relations scholarship in Türkiye predominantly relies on theory-oriented case studies, while the production of original theories and meta-theoretical contributions remains limited. The findings indicate that although Turkish academia is partially engaged in global theoretical debates, it continues to rely heavily on Western-centric theories. Realism and liberalism emerge as the most frequently referenced approaches, yet constructivism, the Copenhagen School, and non-Western theoretical perspectives have shown a notable increase in recent years. By mapping the treatment of international relations theories in Türkiye-based academic journals, the study evaluates Türkiye’s position within the center–periphery debate on theoretical production and consumption, offering an original contribution to the literature.