Governments, Presidents and Prime Ministers in Turkey's Foreign Policy Crises

Abstract

This study investigates Turkey's decision making process during foreing policy crises in order to analyse what impact and roles the decision units have in crisis management. In 36 foreign policy crises, the role of decision units in the final decisions varies according to whether the government in power is a majority or coalition government. The decision making process during foreign policy crises is shaped by the role of the president and the prime minister as the ultimate decision units within the executive. The attempts by presidents to go beyond making statements and to become the ultimate decision maker in foreign policy crises, despite being unaccountable in political terms, is a factor that further complicates crisis management. In parliamentary democracies, the balance between the executive and legislative relies on the accountability of those having political responsibility. Thus, the harmonious copoeration of all actors in the structure and process of decision making at times of process increases the success of crisis management.