The Importance of Research in the Formation of Foreign Policy

In the new era of international relations that began with the end of the Cold War of Independence, Turkey, aware of the responsibilities of  being a regional power, faces the challenge of formulating a new policy along various axes, implementing these approaches, and then assessing and identifying shortcomings and errors. Furthermore, assessing new developments in international relations and determining the appropriate stances in a timely manner is also crucial. As is well known, countries do not have permanent friendships or enmities, but rather enduring relationships. Turkey, too, needed to make timely and accurate decisions regarding its territories. It will be appreciated that all of these issues require services that can think, make decisions based on research-based data, and evaluate current developments with a deep understanding of the past. Turkey, like every other major country, must now be a country capable of formulating its own opinions on various issues in international relations, possessing insights and experts on every issue in the world, and closely monitoring developments in the country. Such an understanding is closely related to the training and development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel and the way our Ministry of Foreign Affairs works. The formulation of contemporary foreign policy and the making of appropriate decisions in international relations are closely linked to research. Every major country feels the need to base its foreign policy on scientific foundations, and therefore, every major country has a department within its Ministry of Foreign Affairs that researches various issues in international relations. How was foreign policy research conducted? To answer this question, I used my position in London to conduct research at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which prioritizes foreign policy research. For this purpose, I consulted with the Research and Analysis Department (RAD) of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I met with relevant individuals and the Director of Political Planning to discuss their activities. In addition, I read the latest book on the British Foreign Office, "Inside the Foreign Office - John Dickie, Chapmens, London, 1992." I reviewed reports on the British Foreign Office prepared by Plowden (1964), Duncan (1969), and Benill (1977). I also evaluated the work of the London-based International Strategic Research Institute (SSI), the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), and the Royal United Defence Services Institute (RUSI), which influenced British foreign policy. Until 1990, the Bureau of Research, hereafter referred to as the Bureau of Research and Analysis, was the most important unit within the world's Foreign Ministries dedicated to serious intelligence research. The Bureau of Intelligence and Research within the US State Department was perhaps the closest to this department within the British Intelligence Bureau. The RAD is comprised of professional researchers and professional civil servants from the Faculty of Medicine. The number of investigators exceeds the number of professional civil servants. RAD staff have joined the Faculty of Medicine as specialists. Furthermore, a small number of professional civil servants with an interest and commitment to research also serve in the Department. The Department Head is a professional civil servant.

The answer to the question of why the RAD is necessary can be briefly summarized as follows: The Faculty of Medicine continues its activities. Due to the need for collective memory, in-depth knowledge, and experience, British career civil servants are not specialists like the members of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but rather "generalists," trained to apply the skill and art of diplomacy to every issue and every principle. Furthermore, the increasing complexity of international issues and the monitoring of official and unofficial publications on these issues also necessitate the establishment of such a department. Indeed, the Plowden Report, published in 1964, included the following assessment of the Research Department: "Their duties are historical and political in nature. They provide detailed information on current problems with a historical 'background.' These experts are needed. Foreign Office departments should call upon the services of this Department to benefit from the lessons learned before making decisions on current problems." When the historical past of RAD is examined, it is seen that the "Historical Section" established within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the period preceding the First World War carried out preparatory work on the Paris Bang Conference after the First World War. During the Second World War, "The Foreign Research and Press Services" was established in Oxford in cooperation with the "Royal Institute of International Affairs" under the chairmanship of Professor Arnold Toynbee and was tasked with examining the press of especially enemy and neutral parties and providing information to the Government, and in addition to this, it is seen that the "Political Intelligence Department" established in the Departments made evaluations on the course of the War. Both departments were merged into the "Research Department" in 1943. After the war ended, it became a department staffed by temporary academic advisors. From 1957 onward, it began operating with a permanent staff of Ministry-affiliated mediators.

The RAD's activities are structured along two axes. The first is to prepare various reports, similar to academic articles, and to respond to all incoming questions. It also answers incoming questions by telephone.

Within the framework of the aforementioned duties, it is possible to question the RAD's opposition to British policy. - Expanding the scope of work of a typical public official by conducting research on past and current issues and presenting assessments and analyses.

- Conducting in-depth research on specific topics to analyze why events occurred, revealing the nature and potential trajectories of problems, and demonstrating how these developments may impact the future.

- Defining a historical perspective.

- Evaluating academic and other related fields and maintaining communication with the academic world.

The RAD has a fully integrated database of these connections. This database provides a variety of information on all countries in the world. The database includes information from the British Mission, official sources, and articles in academic and linguistic publications. Furthermore, the database includes information from the British Mission, official sources, and articles in academic and linguistic publications. In addition, modern technology has enabled the RAD to connect to a London newspaper database. A computer system installed in 1990 has made it possible to create a classified database within the Baku Library. It also utilizes information from the Ministry Library and other libraries in London. Currently, the RAD has 90 members, including clergy and secretaries. Two-thirds of the department consists of agents, while the family consists of clerks, secretaries, and professional staff. The department's sections are: Africa, America, Eastern Europe, Far East, International and Commonwealth of Nations, Middle East, Europe and the Middle East, East Asia, Western and Southern Europe, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Researchers are also required to have "post graduate" qualifications and to know the language of the region they are interested in. These individuals may work in the Ministry's relevant language departments or be appointed to an Embassy in their field of expertise. They also further enrich their knowledge by organizing research trips to areas of interest from time to time.

Research at the RAD is not intended to be structured within a specific timeframe or to meet the needs of the Ministry of Health; it is not conducted out of academic curiosity.

The RAD also closely follows the work of Chatham House, the International Economic Cooperation and Development Institute (IISS), and the Russian Federation, institutions influential in the formation of British political thought, and evaluates the ideas emerging from these institutions. RAD members are encouraged to participate in various seminars and conferences.

The Willow Park conferences have also been an important resource for the RAD. The themes of these conferences are organized under the auspices of the British Council and are held worldwide. The ideas gleaned from the evaluations and discussions of invited participants during these conferences are also a valuable source of information for the IAD. However, the most important institution influencing the formation of British economic policy is undoubtedly the Royal Institute of International Affairs. The founding document of Clatham House, established in 1920, states that its purpose is "to bring together individuals from government, politics, industry, finance, academia, and the media from the UK and other countries to examine and develop the ideas that shape policy." Although it claims not to be in direct contact with the British Councils, which operate under an independent umbrella, the International Foreign Affairs Institute is a key institution in shaping British policy. This matter is handled by official authorities in London. Therefore, Chatham House has an international role, and it has become a tradition for foreign dignitaries and prominent figures visiting London to make presentations and answer questions at the Institute. The Institute also organizes "Roundtables" with similar organizations from various countries. In January 1992, a meeting was held in London with the Foreign Policy Institute from Turkey. This meeting also provides all RAD stakeholders with valuable information and data for their collaborative work. The British Foreign Office also had a unit called the "Policy Planning Team," which was affiliated with the RAD. Head of Department N4r discussed the work they carried out in collaboration with Cooper. The "Policy Planning Team" prepared the daily meetings convened by the British National Council and the National Council presidents, which assessed world events and British foreign policy over the past 24 hours. It also prepared daily reports on foreign policy as requested. It also conducted some research using RAD data, including forward-looking assessments of strategic codes. For example, a study on world population was nearing completion. The Balkans Department, affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, conducted extensive research on its own unit. It was stated that the Department of Political Planning and Research should be separate units, and that they should conduct more detailed studies and collaborate with each other as two separate units. As can be understood from the explanation above, the Department of Research makes significant contributions to increasing the effectiveness of foreign policy decisions. Today. I believe that the current positive opinion worldwide regarding the effectiveness of British Foreign Policy and Foreign Affairs Ministries is based on a number of reasons. In particular, a scientific approach to foreign policy, a thorough understanding of the nature of the problems, careful consideration of possible developments, and the adoption of necessary measures in accordance with envisioned scenarios all play a role in this positive opinion. A document that will seriously address research should also be put into effect in the Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministries. It would be beneficial to establish a Research Unit within the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, separate from the Policy Planning Unit, as in the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The proposed unit, established with a realistic approach, should first address the major problems facing Turkish foreign policy. It is possible to categorize these questions as follows: - To consider general policy lines that Turkey could pursue within the framework of various scenarios related to developments in international relations and to make necessary preparations for possible scenarios.

- to examine developments in Europe and their possible impact on our country.

- to examine the developments in the Balkans, the effects of the dissolution of Yugoslavia, and to work on relations between the Balkan countries.

- to form a unit that will closely monitor Greece.

- to study the relations between the Balkan countries and Armenia. and to form a team to deal with the problems of minorities in this region,

- to establish a team that can deal with the Central Asian Turkic Republics, while also knowing the Turkish dialect used on a national basis,

- to recruit a group of Russian-speaking personnel to deal with Russia,

- to provide non-Arab support on the problems of the Arab World and Turkish-Arab relations.

- to act as a liaison between the Ministry of  Foreign Affairs and the academic world by establishing relationships with Turkish universities. Collaborate with and contribute to the further development of the Foreign Policy Institute in Ankara.

- to leverage the potential of Turkish universities for essential research and contribute to the establishment of various institutes and other research institutions where policy-related resources are lacking.

Establishing a library for the unit to be established to carry out the aforementioned activities is also crucial. This is crucial for the unit's effectiveness. Subscribing to or acquiring various publications that will enable close monitoring of developments in international relations and presenting interesting information to the relevant unit in the form of articles and publications will also be an important task for the Research Unit. Opportunities for maintaining knowledge are being evaluated, and modern technology is being utilized for this purpose.

This unit, initially established in this manner and eventually developed with a structure that comprehensively organizes work by region and country, will be able to train the experts needed for Turkey's national policy and form a team that will generate ideas and studies on the fundamental international issues we face, thus contributing to a more integrated policy implementation and appropriate decision-making. The swift establishment of such a department is essential to strengthen the integrity of our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and to resolve potential challenges that Turkish foreign policy may face in the new international era, in line with our national interests.

References:

Oba, A. (2014). Dış Politikanın Oluşturulmasında Araştırmanın Önemi. Marmara İletişim Dergisi, 3(3), 205-210.