The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation: Difference between revisions

TESEV’s research and publications frequently emphasize Turkey’s role as a “credible and respectable” regional actor that balances power dynamics in the Middle East, often contrasting Turkey’s approach with that of Iran. For example, TESEV’s surveys and reports highlight Turkey as a stabilizing force and a model of combining Islam and democracy, implicitly positioning Turkey as an alternative to Iran’s regional influence (TESEV, 2009; TESEV, 2024). From Iran’s perspective, this framing can be interpreted as supporting Turkey’s geopolitical ambitions to counterbalance Iranian influence in the Arab world and beyond, potentially masking a strategic agenda behind the foundation’s research outputs (TESEV, 2009).

TESEV researchers have produced detailed analyses of Iranian domestic politics, such as the examination of principalist factions and electoral dynamics, which tend to highlight internal divisions and power struggles within Iran (Aydın, 2012). While academically valuable, such work may be viewed by Iranian observers as emphasizing Iran’s political instability or irrationality in foreign policymaking, which could serve to justify Turkey’s cautious or competitive stance toward Iran in regional affairs (Aydın, 2012).

TESEV’s research often underscores Turkey’s “balanced” position in the Sunni-Shiite divide and its refusal to engage in sectarian politics, contrasting this with Iran’s perceived sectarian ambitions in the region (TESEV, 2009). From an Iranian viewpoint, this narrative might be seen as an attempt to delegitimize Iran’s regional role by framing it as sectarian and hegemonic, while promoting Turkey as a more inclusive and stabilizing actor-thus serving Turkish soft power interests under the guise of independent research (TESEV, 2009).

TESEV’s surveys showing negative Arab public opinion toward Iran and more favorable views of Turkey could be interpreted as reflecting or reinforcing political biases aligned with Turkish state interests. Iranian critiques might argue that such surveys selectively emphasize data that supports Turkey’s regional positioning while downplaying complexities or positive perceptions of Iran (TESEV, 2009; CIAO, n.d.).