This study examines how T & uuml;rkiye has employed symbolic expressions and phrases in the formulation and implementation of its foreign policy since the establishment of the Republic, using them as implicit representations of its vision and strategic objectives. Colin Flint conceptualized such deliberate constructions-through which a state legitimizes and garners support for its policy goals and strategies-as a "Geopolitical Code." T & uuml;rkiye offers a compelling case of this phenomenon. Whenever facing rapid geopolitical shifts or crises, T & uuml;rkiye has persistently designed and articulated new Geopolitical Codes to present its evolving grand strategy and political vision. Using the concept of the Geopolitical Code as a theoretical framework, this paper traces how T & uuml;rkiye has constructed and utilized these Codes in response to changes in its geopolitical environment, and analyzes the meanings embedded in each phase. To achieve this, the study conducts a secondary data analysis of official government documents and relevant secondary sources. The analysis reveals thatT & uuml;rkiye's foreign policy cannot be explained solely by material power or structural constraints. More crucial is understanding how the state defines its national interests, identifies allies and adversaries, and constructs symbolic narratives to justify strategic behavior. Continuous examination of these processes not only aids in forecasting T & uuml;rkiye's future diplomatic and strategic trajectories, but also contributes to the scholarly understanding of the discursive dimension of foreign policy analysis.
This study examines how the Rason Special Economic Zone (SEZ), an experimental initiative in highly closed North Korean society, has affected urban space and everyday life, and identifies the factors driving these changes. Drawing on satellite data on nighttime illumination from 1992 to 2023 and building density from 1990 to 2020 for 68 districts in Rason, we combined statistical analyses with indepth interviews. The results show that nighttime illumination increased rapidly between 2009 and 2013, primarily in downtown Rason, while building density continued to rise in the city center and its surrounding areas. Regression analysis indicates that trade volume, targeted sanctions on specific goods, and the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the SEZ's development, with trade with China exerting the most substantial effect. The interview findings corroborate the satellite data and highlight concrete spatial changes. Methodologically, this study demonstrates the potential of mixed approaches for researching highly closed regions, and substantively, it also contributes to strategic debates on North Korea's SEZs, investment potential, and the effectiveness of international sanctions.
Bilateral meetings are often seen as indicative of a country's foreign policy direction. This study investigates whether the frequency and content of President Joko Widodo's bilateral meetings align with Indonesia's broader foreign policy agenda. Employing an information dissemination approach, the research analyses content from the State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia official website (https:// www.setneg.go.id), a relatively understudied source, using content analysis supported by NVivo. The findings reveal a disconnect between publicised diplomatic engagements and key policy narratives. While Jokowi frequently emphasises infrastructure development in public speeches, bilateral meetings are predominantly framed around commerce and industry. Additionally, Indonesia's most frequent meeting partners, such as Australia and Vietnam, differ from its key trade partners like China, the United States, and Japan. These discrepancies suggest that the state's official communication does not fully reflect substantive foreign policy priorities. This study contributes a novel perspective to the study of Indonesian foreign policy by focusing on state-led information flows and issue mapping. It concludes with policy recommendations aimed at improving transparency and coherence in foreign policy communication.
Aiming to identify the key determinants of international tourist inflows and their influence on tourists flows to Uganda, this study applies the gravity model to a panel dataset of thirty-eight countries that sent tourists to Uganda between 2015 and 2023, where 2015-2019 represents the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period and 2020-2023 represents the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. The results of the analysis, which considered both economic and non-economic factors, indicate that higher GDP, shared borders, and the Sub-Saharan Africa variables have significant positive impacts on tourist flows in both periods, while GDP per capita, distance, direct flights, and visa restrictions negatively affect these inflows. The analysis also shows that Uganda attracts more tourists from neighboring and sub-Saharan African countries. These findings underscore the role of regional dynamics and highlight the importance of strengthening regional cooperation, developing targeted policies to invest in tourism infrastructure and markets for wealthier countries, improving transport connectivity, and easing of travel restrictions in enhancing Uganda's competitiveness in global tourism as well as maximizing the sector's contribution to the country's economic development.
Since its establishment in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has been neglected by mainstream Western countries. This disregard stems from its initial leadership by China and Russia as a regional regime focused on specific functional goals such as combating terrorism and maintaining stability among members. However, recent shifts in international and regional dynamics, particularly following the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, have created a potential opportunity for China and Russia to fill the power vacuum in inner Eurasia. Consequently, the SCO has begun to assert itself more prominently on global issues. The accession of new members since 2017 enhanced the SCO's stature as a counter force against the traditional Western blocs. Furthermore, the China rise in recent years not only suggests a potential scenario of "The East is Rising, The West is Declining," but the China-Russia the quasi-coalition seems to call back the idea by Halford Mackinder who imaged the power who control the heart-land will grab the world finally. This paper will check the current situation by focusing on SCO development, and try to observe how it would influence the US-China competition and global geopolitics.
