Department of Politics and International Relations
Edoardo Lavezzo
Research
Title of research
Transactionalism in Turkish foreign policy: Addressing its presence in Energy Diplomacy towards the EU and China
Brief overview of research topic
The objective of this research is to explore the presence of transactionalism in detail and demonstrate if its principles have been manifested in the Turkish foreign policy when addressing energy diplomacy.
The research defines transactionalism as a foreign policy approach that favours bilateralism to multilateralism, focuses on short-term wins rather than longer-term strategic foresight, does not follow a grand strategy, uses systemic instabilities as leverages and is characterised by a nationalist and populist leadership.
Conducting a comparative analysis of the Turkish energy diplomacy towards the EU and China, the thesis evidences that Turkey has not adopted transactionalism in the same way.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in History (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice)
Master of Arts in Political Sciences (University of Manchester)
Presentations and awards
In July 2023, Edoardo presented "Middle power & small states’ dualism with EU and China" at the 2023 Political Studies Association Early Career Network Annual Conference Political Worlds. For his paper, Edoardo was awarded Best Paper in International Relations by the Political Studies Association
In September 2023, Edoardo participated in the workshop on “Europe in an Uncertain World: Openness, Resilience and Vulnerabilities of Small States and Middle Powers” presenting his paper on “Turkey’s behaviour as a middle power: navigating the EU-China Competition through Transactionalism.
In February 2024, Edoardo attended the EDC 2024 ELECTIONS – DEMOCRACY – CRISIS Conference at the University of Warsaw, presenting the paper "The impact of domestic factors on the middle power status: Examining Turkey's Presidentialism to understand how the country's domestic backlash affected the relationship with the EU"
In April 2024, Edoardo attended the CAS/CeSeR Annual Conference at the University of Edinburgh, presenting the paper "Shelter theory understood by middle powers: Analysis of Turkey’s foreign policy in Libya and Somalia"
In May 2024, Edoardo attended the Kurdish Studies Conference at the University of Sheffield, presenting the paper "Turkey’s rapprochement towards China in geopolitics: Understanding security policies of the Kurdish peoples inside the Belt and Road Initiative".
In June 2024, Edoardo attended GTGC Conference 2024 at the University of Leiden, presenting the paper “Turkey and Australia’s grand strategy: Comparing middle powers’ behaviour in a great power competition”.
In December 2024, Edoardo has co-organised and attended the XVIII ANNUAL CONFERENCE at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice. He has also presented a paper entitled "Can the EU still consider Azerbaijan as a small state? Exposing energy policies through the Shelter Theory"
