The Evolution of Power Concept(s) in International Relations

The Evolution of Power Concept(s) in International Relations

A Comparison through Application to 1998 Turkish-Syrian Crisis

von Buğra Sarı

Power remains central to International Relations (IR) theory, yet scholars lack consensus on its definition. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the concept of power in International Relations (IR), addressing one of the discipline’s most fundamental yet contested ideas.

This book explores the historical and theoretical origins of major power conceptualizations—spanning realism, liberalism, constructivism, and post-structuralism—and applies them to a real-world crisis, the 1998 Turkish-Syrian October Crisis. The book poses three critical questions: What accounts for the multitude of power conceptualizations in International Relations? How has a particular conceptualization of power developed its specific meaning? What are the primary characteristics and focal points of the existing power conceptualizations in the discipline?

This book provides a vital resource for graduate students and researchers navigating the complexities of IR theory and offers valuable tools for applying theory to real-world phenomena.

Power remains central to International Relations (IR) theory, yet scholars lack consensus on its definition. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the concept of power in International Relations (IR), addressing one of the discipline’s most fundamental yet contested ideas.

This book explores the historical and theoretical origins of major power conceptualizations—spanning realism, liberalism, constructivism, and post-structuralism—and applies them to a real-world crisis, the 1998 Turkish-Syrian October Crisis. The book poses three critical questions: What accounts for the multitude of power conceptualizations in International Relations? How has a particular conceptualization of power developed its specific meaning? What are the primary characteristics and focal points of the existing power conceptualizations in the discipline?

This book provides a vital resource for graduate students and researchers navigating the complexities of IR theory and offers valuable tools for applying theory to real-world phenomena.

Buğra Sarı specializes in International Relations, focusing on power theory and Turkish foreign policy. He earned his PhD from Bilkent University and currently teaches at Mersin University. His research has appeared in leading journals, including Journal of Political Power, Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, and Insight Turkey.

Highlights

• Resolves ambiguity around the concept of power by tracing its historical and theoretical roots across major IR tradition Introduces a novel analytical approach that applies diverse power conceptualizations to the 1998 Turkish-Syrian crisis Provides a vital resource for graduate students navigating the complexities of International Relations theory

Über den Autor

Assoc. Prof. Buğra Sarı is an academic specializing in International Relations, with a focus on the concept of power and Turkish foreign policy. He earned his bachelor's degree in International Relations from Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in 2010, his master's degree in Middle East and African Studies from Gazi University in 2012, and his Ph.D. in International Relations from Bilkent University in 2018. Dr. Sarı currently serves as an Associate Professor at Mersin University's Department of International Relations. He has previously held positions at Gazi University and the Turkish National Police Academy's Institute of Security Sciences. His academic contributions include numerous articles:  -Sarı, Buğra (2023) “Security Aspect of the Integration in Turkic World under the Organization of Turkic States”, Insight Turkey, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 139-161. (ESCI) -Sarı, Buğra (2023) “From Prescription to Treatment: The Disciplinary (under)Achievement of IR in Turkey”, All Azimuth: Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 261-280. (ESCI) -Sarı, Buğra (2022) “Culture of Insecurity and Production of Foreign Policy Crises: Turkey’s Sèvres Syndrome and Syrian Support for the PKK during the 1998 October Crisis”, Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 138-157. (SSCI) -Sarı, Buğra (2020) “Not only Relational but also Structural: Revisiting the Resolution of the 1998 October Crisis through Elements of Structural Power”, Journal of Political Power, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 106-122. (SSCI) -Sarı, Buğra (2019) “Making Sense of the New Episode of Great Power Rivalry in Africa through Neorealist Lenses: Sino-US Competition”, Meridiano 47- Journal of Global Studies, Vol. 20, pp. 1-16. (ESCI) -Sarı, Buğra (2018) “The Strategic Interaction between Turkey and Iran in the Syrian Crisis: A Game Theoretical Analysis of the Time Frame from 2011 to 2015”, Bilig, No. 87, pp. 203-227. (SSCI)