A cavalcade of drones: On how neighboring conflicts affect Turkish democracy

Abstract

Türkiye is intertwined with many regions due to its location. In addition to possessing land in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, it also maintains close relations with Africa and Eastern Europe, with its coasts bordering the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. However, political instability in these regions occasionally escalates into armed conflict, forcing Türkiye to navigate numerous fault lines in its foreign policy. In parallel, a significant leap was observed in Türkiye’s defense industry. Especially after the 1974 Cyprus Operation, policymakers have recognized the domestic defense industry as vital and have taken steps to enhance its capacity. Today, Turkish war machines have started to play decisive roles in various conflicts. The stress in foreign policy is also reflected in domestic politics and affects the nature of the regime. This study examines the impact of the tension lines, which can also escalate into hot conflicts in the geographical region where Türkiye is located, on the country. The primary argument of the study is that the country has adopted a security-oriented stance in its domestic politics due to numerous conflicts surrounding its borders. This security-oriented set-up also brings about a hardening of domestic politics and undermines the democratic establishment.