The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Türkiye’s Public Diplomacy Activities in the Context of New Public Diplomacy and Political Communication Discussions

This article examines the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Türkiye’s public diplomacy. Firstly, it discusses how NGOs are positioned as a public diplomacy actor in the public diplomacy literature. The second part emphasizes that the changes and transformations in the communication and media order also affect international activities such as public diplomacy. Finally, the last section analyzes the role of NGOs in public diplomacy activities of Türkiye. As seen in the new public diplomacy approach and the internationalization of political communication strategies, it has been argued that NGOs have a multifaceted and multidimensional field of action in public diplomacy. Although NGOs are more prominent in public diplomacy with their humanitarian aid dimension, they can also engage in vital activities for public diplomacy such as lobbying, producing a positive agenda, and establishing trust in the relevant society, and Türkiye should position NGOs in this way in its public diplomacy efforts.