Restructuring Turkey as a New Semi-periphery in the Age of Globalization

Restructuring Turkey as a New Semi-periphery in the Age of Globalization

KÜRŞAD ÖZEKIN, Muhammed
ÖZEKIN, Ayça

Associated with a number of structural shifts in global economic system, function and characteristic of the semi-periphery has considerably changed in the last several decades. However, having inherently been lodged with the ontological and the epistemological limitedness of world system theory, the conventional theorization of semi-periphery tends to be dismissive of the notion of globalization, and fails to analyze new functions and characteristics of semi-peripheral countries under neo-liberal globalization. Taking globalization seriously, this study aims to bring the term back to IPE literature with an up-to-date and analytically valid conceptualization of semi-peripheriality under neo-liberal globalization. In order to do this, it will first provide a comprehensive critique of the ontological and the epistemological deficiencies commonly associated with the previous accounts. Particularly, structuralist, cyclical systemic, state-bounded and holistic bias in world system theory will be critically explored in order to inform the reader about the underlying theoretical limitedness in understanding new dynamics of global economy. Mainly drawing on neo-Gramscian approach and theory of global capitalism, this study wills later present a neo-Gramscian-inspired articulation of new semi-periphery through giving special references to transnational’s phenomenon and the role of transnational-oriented economic and social forces within and above states. In so doing the matter of semi-periphery will be reconceptualised in the light of a number of changes associated with the rise of neo-liberal globalization since the beginning of the 1970`s. Building on this perspective, the study will lastly place the matter into an empirical context by taking Turkey as a case study of export-oriented new semi-periphery. Particularly, the transnationalization of Turkish economy and state structure will be analyzed as a manifestation of new semi-peripheriality under dynamics of neo-liberal globalization. In this context, a special emphasis will be placed on the transformative and agential role of transnational capitalist classes, international financial institutions and transnational-oriented economic and social forces within and above states. Keywords: Semi-periphery, globalization, neo-Gramscian theory, transnationalization, global capitalism, Turkey, social forces.

Article
PeerReviewed

ISSN 2303-4564

International Burch University

2014-04-24

2480