From Realist Billiard Balls and Liberal Concentric Circles to Global IR’s Venn Diagram? Rethinking International Relations via Turkey’s Centennial

The Republic of Turkey continues to grapple with a foundational tension between isolationist impulses steeped in nationalist, sovereigntist, i.e., realist outlook on the world, and what I call “embedded liberalism” republican project. Yet, neither realism nor liberalism are sufficient, show, explain Turkey’s trajectory. Invoking three visions international system as envisaged (billiard balls), (concentric circles), global IR (which conceptualize Venn diagram), argue that last best captures (Turkey’s) challenges opportunities. My contention is incorporates constructivist claims regarding historical social forces world politics, but also decenters Eurocentric notions history society. A timely way read multipolarity, approach supports relational learning our overlapping humanity. Scholars arguably have comparative advantage this space. This due their ability, albeit not always actualized, plural terms — epistemological equivalent proverbial bridging role politics.