Institutionalising Pan-Turkism: Türkiye's Geostrategic Ambitions in Central Asia through the Organisation of Turkic States
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Since the end of the Cold War, Türkiye has sought to extend its geopolitical and cultural reach beyond Anatolia, reactivating the long-dormant ideology of Pan-Turkism to forge deeper ties with the Turkic-speaking republics of Central Asia. Initially revived as a cultural and linguistic project in the 1990s, Pan-Turkism has gradually evolved into a structured framework of regional cooperation through the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), established in 2021. This article examines how Ankara has institutionalised Pan-Turkism into an instrument of foreign policy and influence by combining cultural diplomacy, economic integration, and strategic coordination under the “Turkic World Vision 2040”. It also analyses the responses of Central Asian states, balancing between cooperation and reluctance, as well as the competition of regional powers such as Russia and China. Drawing on constructivist and realist approaches, this study argues that the OTS represents Türkiye’s attempt to convert cultural identity into geopolitical leverage. However, the aspirations of a unified Turkic bloc remain constrained by national sovereignty, diverging interests, and the persistent influence of regional and global powers.
Author: Benmoussa, Sofiane
Institution: École Nationale d'Administration
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203569504