Anxieties of a Self-Claimed Middle Power: Ruptures and Continuities in Turkish Foreign Policy in the New Millennium and the Puzzle of Ontological (in) Security

This article examines the transformation of Turkey’s foreign policy under the Justice and Development Party (AKP) through the lens of ontological security. While Turkey has historically been engaged with the European ideal as the manifestation of the ontological security, the AKP era has witnessed significant shifts driven by a multi-layered activism stemming from the self-claimed middle powerhood. The study argues that ontological security provides a crucial framework for understanding these changes, particularly Turkey’s pursuit of a stable state identity amid shifting foreign policy priorities. This study explores the ruptures and continuities in Turkey’s foreign policy and assesses how identity-based concerns shape its strategic actions. In doing so, it contributes to the broader discourse on ontological security and middle power dynamics, offering a nuanced perspective on Turkey’s evolving foreign policy and self-positioning in the international arena.