لیلا عظیمی پردنجانی

The present study analyzes Turkey's foreign policy during the tenure of Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, focusing on the Palestine issue. The main question is: How has Ankara balanced the conflicting imperatives of national interests on one hand and public diplomacy based on support for Palestine on the other? The research hypothesis is grounded in the idea that Turkey's seemingly contradictory behavior—combining firm political and media support for Palestine with the continuation of economic and security cooperation with Israel—is not an inconsistency but rather reflects a rational and calculated strategy to maximize regional power and influence within the constraints of the international system.  

Relying on the theoretical framework of Kenneth Waltz's structural neorealism and using a descriptive-explanatory documentary method, this research examines official speeches, economic data, media reports, and the activities of public diplomacy institutions. The findings indicate that Turkey, with a deep understanding of the anarchic nature of the international system, has used public diplomacy as a functional tool to gain legitimacy and soft power influence in the Islamic world, while simultaneously securing its material interests through maintaining strategic relations with Israel and the West.  

In conclusion, this study argues that Turkey’s behavioral pattern during the Erdo?an era represents a successful example of a middle power combining strategic realism and soft power. By skillfully employing public diplomacy tools alongside preserving beneficial relations with various actors, Ankara has demonstrated how national objectives can be advanced in a complex and competitive environment. This approach has not only increased Turkey’s regional influence but has also enhanced its position in international equations.