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Understanding the Role of Leadership Styles of Erdogan and Merkel in Sustainability of Turkey-European Union Relations: A Leadership Trait Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Erdi Kutlu

    (Independent Researcher, PhD Degree in International Relations at Ege University, 35040 Izmir, Turkey)

  • Çağdaş Cengiz

    (Instructor, PhD Degree in European Studies, Dokuz Eylül University, 35210 Izmir, Turkey)

  • Murat Necip Arman

    (Department of International Relations, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, 09010 Aydin, Turkey)

  • Emir Ozeren

    (Faculty of Tourism, Dokuz Eylül University, 35390 Izmir, Turkey
    Centre for Inclusive and Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CISEI), University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK)

Abstract

This study aims to understand the role of the leadership styles of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in European Union-Turkey relations by conducting a Leadership Trait Analysis (LTA), which takes into account the leaders’ personalities in foreign policy. The article makes use of the verbal records of the two leaders regarding the bilateral relations between their countries and the European Union. The results unveil that the two leaders’ personal characteristics bear similarities to a considerable extent; i.e., both leaders are sceptical in inter-personal relations, discernibly intuitive, self-confident and so forth. The study suggests that those personal traits of the leaders which have occasionally outweighed crude rationality have been some of the important factors enabling the sustainability of relations between Turkey and the EU against all odds.

Suggested Citation

  • Erdi Kutlu & Çağdaş Cengiz & Murat Necip Arman & Emir Ozeren, 2021. "Understanding the Role of Leadership Styles of Erdogan and Merkel in Sustainability of Turkey-European Union Relations: A Leadership Trait Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9258-:d:616652
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Helene Sjursen, 2002. "Why Expand?: The Question of Legitimacy and Justification in the EU’s Enlargement Policy," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3), pages 491-513, September.
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