M.A. Theses

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Representations of the modern girl in Japanese interwar literature
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2019., 2019.) Kaynar, Aslı İdil.; Baykara, Oğuz.; Babaoğlu, Lale.
This study explores the Japanese modern girl’s (moga) representations in Taishō and early Shōwa texts, and the role these representations played in women finding their voice in literature. The project acknowledges the modern girl figure as a character of fiction and a real-life figure. Examining the modern girl’s position within the Japanese feminist writing, the study supports the idea that whereas the media wanted to turn her into a passive figure or a stereotype by objectifying her, literary texts’ portrayals of this figure are of great variety. The modern girl differs from her contemporary, the New Woman in that, The New Woman appeared before moga in 1910s as a politically active feminist figure, whereas moga was defined as passive. Moga drew attention due to her Westernized looks and the way she took an active part in the public space. For these reasons, she became an inspiration for many authors. Through context based analysis of Tanizaki Jun’ichirō’s and Uno Chiyo’s selected literary works, and Kawabata Yasunari’s The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa (Asakusa kurenaidan) this study reveals the common patterns in the protagonists’ relationships with the modern girl analyzed within the theoretical framework of objectification. This thesis argues that moga in real life was a complex figure that cannot be simply categorized as a product of mass culture. The study ends with the suggestion that there is still much to explore about the modern girl, especially through examining her representations in literary texts.
The making of luxury markets :|comparison of Chinese and Turkish patterns
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2019., 2019.) Ateş, Alp Anıl.; Karaömerlioğlu, M. Asım.
During the recent decades of globalization, consumption practice of the people in developing countries has drastically changed and ostentatious products have become popular. This study explores the luxury consumption behavior and patterns of different cultures through a comparative study of the Chinese and Turkish experiences of conspicuous consumption. In order to assess these patterns, the study adopts the conceptual framework of Thorstein Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class and Pierre Bourdieu's Distinction: A Social Critique of Judgement of Taste. The study argues that the recent Chinese and Turkish experiences of conspicuous consumption patterns of middle classes are in step in general with the modern industrial society’s phase of intensive consumption patterns which emerged previously in the United States and Europe that have been theorized extensively in the works of Veblen and Bourdieu. The study’s second argument, however, shows that the perception of attractiveness is different for each culture which impacts the kind of conspicuous consumption that has been experienced in China and Turkey. Furthermore, consumption habits in China and Turkey vary due to cultural influences that combine patterns of Western and traditional values, and the development level of the country. Thus, knowledge about the Chinese and Turkish experiences help contribute to our understanding of the global patterns of conspicuous consumption as a social phenomenon of economic transformation by bringing in examples from geographies outside of the urban experiences in the United States and Europe.
Turkey, China and the silk road of energy :|The Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2019., 2019.) Akar, Zeynepcan.; Karaömerlioğlu, M. Asım.; Atlı, Altay,
This thesis analyzes the motives behind involvement of Turkey and China in the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP). Referred as the Silk Road of Energy, TANAP is a fundamental section of Southern Gas Corridor which is an international new route for diversifying energy sources of Europe. TANAP is a recently constructed pipeline crossing Turkey and will carry 16 bcm of natural gas of Azerbaijan delivered from Shah Deniz 2 field, 6 bcm of which will be consumed in Turkish national market and the rest will be transferred to Europe. As an international project, TANAP received loans from various institutions, while World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are co-financing the project. As a newly established institution spear-headed by China in 2015, AIIB aims to support infrastructure development in Asia, while TANAP is a section of a new energy route benefiting Europe, which is not directly within the spectrum of AIIB. Even though not directly involved, China imposes a role in TANAP through AIIB. The involvement of China through the loan provided by AIIB implies China’s interest in this new energy route and is a subtle cooperation between Turkey and China on future energy relations. On the other hand, TANAP is a significant part of Turkey’s aim to become an energy hub and highlights Turkey’s strategic position between Asia and Europe while complimenting Turkey’s energy security. The motives of Turkey are both strategic and energy security based while China has only strategic motives in involving in TANAP.
Prospects for a multicultural Korean society: Minority politics with a focus on Afro-Koreans
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2018., 2018.) Mirkelam, Burcu.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Esenbel, Selçuk,
This thesis looks into the potential towards a multicultural South Korean society and possible improvement of minority politics with a focus on Afro-Asians in South Korea. The main research question is to what extend the Afro-Asian community can define a multicultural South Korea and challenge the nationalist discourse. It is aimed to look into the government policies to be able to understand the inclusion and exclusion mechanisms of the state towards the minorities and look into the limits of the multicultural policies towards this minority group. It will be maintained that although there has been an inclination to adopt multicultural policies for the integration of mixed-race individuals living in South Korea, its sphere of influence has been significantly limited and an effective policy-making is an important step for achieving multiculturalism. The implied policies do not necessarily change the public opinion and attitude towards multiculturalism. Although Koreans’ view on foreigners, multicultural family and mixed-race individuals seem to be positive, there is still discrimination against them, decreased in its intensity. Hence, it will be argued that there are complex layers to multiculturalism in South Korea when the state-led policies, public opinion and personal biographies of mixed-race Koreans looked into. In other words, there are different value systems attached to certain multi-ethnics in South Korea as celebrity and non-celebrity cases highlight. As the multicultural policies took initiative in the late 1990s, due to the influx of migrants, this thesis will look into the initiation of these policies until today in South Korea.
Practices of soft power: A comparison of South Korea and Turkey from the 1990s to 2017
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2018., 2018.) Muter, Irem Cihan.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,
Throughout the history, power has been conceived as the ability to get what you want through inducement or threats which is basically called hard power and states have been longly practicing hard power in order to get what they want from other nations. Distinctly from the conventional perception of power, many countries utilize soft power to gain what they want in the international arena in the 21st century. Foremost among them, Korea and Turkey the “brother nations” which have similar modern historical developments have been decidedly employing cultural diplomacy strategies and trying to gain a leverage in the international arena. In this thesis, soft power practices of the both countries were investigated and their global soft power rankings were compared based on Joseph Nye’s theory on three sources of soft power as cultural attractiveness, universal foreign policies and legitimate domestic politics.
“One Nation, Two States”: Turkey–Azerbaijan economic relations and the rhetoric of Turkic identity
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2018., 2018.) İskender, Barış.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Atlı, Altay,
The rhetoric of “One Nation, Two States” has been dominating the official expressions of Turkey-Azerbaijan relations since the independence of the latter in 1991. Along the way, both countries have been cooperating in energy politics, regional disputes, and bilateral trade. However, it is not evident what role being Turkic plays in the commercial relations of Turkish businessmen in Azerbaijan. This study aims to carry out research that examines the impact of Turkic identity on the commercial dimension of Turkey-Azerbaijan brotherhood that is described with the official rhetoric of One Nation, Two States. After providing an historical account of the bilateral relations since 1991, the study analyzes them through the perspectives of realism, liberalism, and constructivism under the methodology of analytic eclecticism. To find out the impact of ideational factors on commercial links, interviews with Turkish diplomats and businessmen are conducted. At the end of the research, the study confirms the role of Turkic identity in initiating and facilitating the relations with the conclusion that they are mostly maintained by mutual interests in political dimension and compliance to liberal market dynamics in the commercial realm.
Understanding Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party) factionalism as a structure of elite circulation in Japanese politics
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2022., 2022.) Akçevin, Yalın.; Eroğlu, Zeyneb Hale.; Esenbel, Selçuk,
The factions of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (Jimintō/LDP) have been subjected to different analyses over the years, each seeking to explain their origins and functions, and to forecast their future. Factions have been studied from cultural and functional-structural viewpoints, and have been characterized as being integral to both the functioning and breakdown of the Japanese political system and the LDP. This study aims to expand the discussion on the factions by moving beyond both these existing viewpoints by using the works of Weber, Michels, Pareto, and Mosca, and by introducing a new model for attributing levels of significance to the circulation of elites. Thus, this study seeks to examine the changing power and influence of the factions as a structure that is integral to the cycle of elite circulation in Japanese politics. While doing so, this study also aims to reexamine the functions and significance of the factions and the Japanese Prime Minister as a factional representative from the viewpoint of elite theories, whilst locating the Japanese case as firmly outside the scope of Japanese exceptionalism as possible by comparing it to the case of Italy’s Democrazia Cristiana (DC). The findings indicate that the factions of the LDP have functioned as conflicting elite organizations with discernible policy involvements and differentiations. In addition, their powers have shifted in response to the needs of the party and the nation, producing the leadership changes necessary and ensuring that the political elites have been in a state of circulation within the LDP.
Changing the status of the presidency: A comparison of constitutional amendments in South Korea and Turkey
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2017., 2017.) Demirbulak, Hülya Görkem.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Esenbel, Selçuk,
The aim of this thesis is to plot South Korea and Turkey’s journey towards a constitutional amendment by focusing on their current debates about changing the status of the presidency and to find an answer to the question of whether the intended changes to the respective countries’ constitutions will bring them close to a democratic presidential system. In this context, in this study, a general framework of both countries’ constitutional developments throughout history and the characteristics of their constitutions will be drawn, and the parallelisms in their constitutional histories will be highlighted. Furthermore, the ongoing debates on constitutional revision appertaining to the presidency will be handled with the main matters in question and a comparative assessment will be made within the scope of the similarities and divergences between two countries. As the fundamental legal document defining basic principles of the state, regulating its relationship with the citizens, and reflecting the nation’s history, its future goals, and its view of the world, a constitution constitutes a basis to fully understand a country. For this very reason, by examining the process of South Korean and Turkish constitutional developments throughout history and the current debates on constitutional amendments, this thesis offers the opportunity to thoroughly perceive both countries’ political tradition, to better interpret our modern day, and to make more to-the-point inferences about their futures.
The influence of the Vajrapāni on Japanese martial ideologies
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2022., 2022.) Norris, Jennifer.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Küçükyalçın, Erdal.
This study follows the relationship between the iconic warrior figure Vajrapāni, and two of its derived characters: Fudō Myō-ō and the Niō, as they influence the development of martial ideology in Japan, following the symbolic representations developed in India and the patterns of royal interactions developed in China, culminating in an analysis of modern martial relevance. Origin theories and symbolism are first addressed, to which I will add two observations pertaining to the Bharhut yavana the iconic warrior figure dating to the first century BCE and the cross-chest belt channavīra, as a symbol of warrior qualities. The integration of Fudō into the imperial and political spheres via Shingon Buddhist priest Amoghavajra in China, and the manner in which it was carried forward into Japan by Kūkai are examined. Vajrapāni extended from the imperial house within Japan and entwined with the several groups including the developing warrior class (bushi) and fighting monks, commonly known as Sōhei, as well as means of popular culture. This thesis demonstrates how the Vajrapāni and its derivative characters, have played a foundational role in the development of martial ideology in Japan, which was guided through features that were evident from the Vajrapāni’s origin, including imperial connection, liminality, bellicosity, transitional or liminal status, association with ‘necessary evil and popular appeal. It is the aim of this thesis to aid the depth of the bridging of ancient Buddhist symbolism and mythological meaning and current martial philosophy.
Branding Washoku as an instrument of Japanese soft power
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2021., 2021.) Yahşi, Merve.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Küçükyalçın, Erdal.
Japanese food has become a global trend over the past two decades, and boosted the international standing of Japan. This study delineates the role of Japanese cuisine, or washoku, as an instrument of Japanese soft power. It traces how washoku was transformed into a strong national brand and how this brand was framed differently in domestic and global contexts. This thesis argues that while the promotion of washoku abroad depicts it as a flourishing cuisine based on characteristics such as respect to nature, seasonality, and a well-balanced diet, in the domestic context it is designed to address issues like a decreasing domestic interest in Japanese foods and the need for greater self-sufficiency in food production. This thesis also argues that through the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List nomination process, Japan was able to combine these two concerns and create a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the washoku brand on both national and global levels.
The strategic importance of the Kuril Islands for Japan’s national security
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2021., 2021.) Kır, Taner.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Esenbel, Selçuk,
This thesis was written on the strategic importance of the Northern Territories, for which Japan and Russia did not sign the peace treaty that would end the Second World War. Claiming that the four islands of the Kuril Islands chain, Habomai, Kunashir, Shikotan and, Etorofu, which are close to Japan, are connected to Hokkaido, which is in the northernmost part of Japan, and claiming that they are unjustly occupied, Japan demands the return of these islands to itself. This study, which deals with the military, economic and, political-strategic importance of these islands, which cause mutual conflict, has examined the effects of the Northern Region on Japan's national security. As a result of the study, it has been revealed that the economic potential of the islands is high and that it can benefit Japan, but it is not of high importance in terms of military security.
Tracing the criminal women in Edogawa Ranpo’s stories
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2022., 2022.) Kot, Ayşe Selin.; Eroğlu, Zeyneb Hale.; Baykara, Oğuz.
Edogawa Ranpo is a Japanese author whose works concentrate on detective fiction. This study focuses on the portrayal of criminal women in his detective fiction works, Appearance of Osei (Osei Tōjō), Beast in the Shadows (Injū), and Caterpillar (Imo Mushi). The study analyses their roles as wives, lovers, and aggressors in their surroundings, and argues that by getting his female protagonists to murder their husbands, Ranpo liberates these women from the social pressure and burden of the patriarchal structures placed on them. To discuss the patriarchal oppression and these women characters’ agency, this research adopts a context-based analysis through the structuration theory. The thesis also argues that by bending the norms of the structures they are restricted in, these criminal characters can be considered as a statement against the ryōsai kenbo (good wife, wise mother) ideology of Meiji Japan.
The perception of Chinggis Khan :|a comparison of medieval Mongolian, Persian, and Chinese historical sources
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2022., 2022.) Karaarslan, Burcu.; Eroğlu, Zeyneb Hale.; Togan, İsenbike,1940- .
This study aims to present a comprehensive understanding of Chinggis Khan's life, career, and policies by comparing his perception via evaluating the fair and harsh policies of Chinggis Khan in major primary sources in its Inner Asian context and conception of political legitimacy. Accordingly, The Secret History of the Mongols, Jami' al-Tawarikh and Yuan Shi, Chapter 1 examined and concluded that they have similar perceptions about Chinggis Khan, but their approach to the events differs. In this respect, to reconcile these differences, the compilers emphasize Chinggis Khan's good deeds and legitimize or censor things they attribute negatively in accordance with the conditions of the sovereignty of the Mongols, Persia, and China during the compilation process of these sources.
Hyundai Motor Company’s overseas manufacturing policy :|the analysis of Turkey as a production site
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2021., 2021.) Uçar, Kuntay Yiğit.; Babaoğlu, Lale.; Hong, Hyun Woong.
By the 1980s, the dominance globalization was felt on the world economy. Large companies in developed countries have started to make overseas investments in order to make more profit, consequently they have turned into multinational companies. Developing countries also need to have some qualifications to attract these investments in to their own countries for economic development and stability. Foreign direct investments have effects on many macroeconomic indicators such as employment, exports, balance of payments, production, and inflation of the host country. Due to the understanding of the importance of these investments in Turkey by 1970s, foreign direct investments on Turkish Automotive Sector started. Automotive sector has a key role on economic development for both developed and emerging countries. It is known that automotive sector has a very important place for the Turkish economy. Foreign capital investments on automotive sector played an important role for the growth of the Turkish economy. In this context, it has become necessary to conduct more studies on foreign capital investments made in automotive industry, which can be seen as the locomotive sector of country's economy. In this thesis, the development and growth of the Turkish Automotive Industry with foreign capital investments has been examined in light of the investments made by South Korean Hyundai Motors Company in Turkey. In addition, the effects of Hyundai Assan joint venture on country's economy and the results of these effects in terms of economy, politics and social areas are examined.
The legacy of inequality in the status of Turkish and Chinese women’s rights to property
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2021., 2021.) Gümüş, Cansu.; Babaoğlu, Lale.; Togan, İsenbike,
This study aims to present an analysis comparing the differences and similarities of women’s property right both as a legal concept and as a practice in China and Turkey. The focus is particularly on property rights because property is a determining factor for women's decision-making power, independence and self determination. In fact, in the reforms Mao and Atatürk made to change the inferior position of women, they gave equality to women in property and inheritance fields. However, many women still cannot freely exercise their right to property and share of inheritance in current Turkey and China. Therefore, in order to understand this contradiction for Turkish and Chinese women who have legally gained rights but could not implement them much in practice, the property rights of women in pre reform period in China and Turkey are examined in detail.
Bunka Gaikō (Japan’s Cultural Diplomacy) :|re-constructing Japanese identity in France and Turkey (1952-1989)
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2022., 2022.) Karaoğlu, Semiha.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Esenbel, Selçuk,
Japan has evolved into a cultural nation in the aftermath of World War II owing to the promulgation of the Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan. Given its pacifist culture and emerging role as a responsible member of the global society, cultural diplomacy became the primary and immediate foreign policy instrument to reconstruct Japanese identity in international relations long before the theory of Soft Power emerged. The present research unveils Japan’s identity reconstruction through cultural diplomacy as a rehabilitative and constructive foreign policy mechanism to heal its image as a peace-loving nation by comparing Japan’s cultural diplomacy in France and Turkey between 1952 and 1989 comparatively to discern what kind of perception of Japan has emerged as a product of Japan’s international cultural policies in both countries. Ultimately, the thesis reveals that Japan’s cultural diplomacy in France has generated an intellectual ecosystem, whereas, in Turkey, the perception of Japan and Japanese culture remains underdeveloped due to the lack of an official culture house—inaugurated by the Government of Japan—which can constitute a legitimate institute or culture house to coordinate international cultural policies.
Artificial intelligence for social good :|from a global perspective to a regional one
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2020., 2020.) Bağlar, Nazlı Almira.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,
This thesis looks into the question of how the use of artificial intelligence can be utilized for the social good, what problems can it alleviate and what possible solution we can discover by using these new technologies around aligned with the specific needs of the countries with an emphasis on cases from Japan and China. In answering this question, the reports on the subjects from governments, international organizations, global and regional NGOs are used as a framework to reach conclusions about the means AI-based technologies are implemented for the purpose of social good. While considering these notions, the thesis also examines the proposed and applied AI legislations of the countries, the approaches made by various technology companies and the views from academia. Just like many other organizations and institutions working on the subject, the thesis uses the United Nations’ Sustainable Goals as a general scheme while addressing the societal problems that can be solved by AI applications, and offers advices for future frameworks while enabling social good.
A marxist reading of Kuroshima Denji
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2020., 2020.) Saf, Kemal.; Babaoğlu, Lale.; Baykara, Oğuz.
Although there exist many critical studies discussing Japanese proletarian literature, Kuroshima Denji, an anti-war proletarian writer and his works, unfortunately, still have not drawn much interest from academic circles. Moreover, Kuroshima Denji has been defined more as an anti-war writer rather than a proletarian author since most proletarian authors tend to write about the relationship between workers and the capitalist class. Nonetheless, knowing about Kuroshima Denji’s works will clarify and contribute to the understanding of the conditions that gave birth to the proletarian literature in Taishō or even in Meiji Japan. This thesis discusses Kuroshima Denji’s stories within the scope of a Marxist literary critique, and it details a deeper understanding of his sociopolitical viewpoint mentioned in his novels.
Patterns of contemporary Russo-Syrian relations: A realist interpretation from the Moscow perspectıve
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2017., 2017.) Sakaoğlu, Emre Tunç.; Karaömerlioğlu, M. Asım.
The primary aim of this thesis is to shed light on the past, present, and near future of Russian-Syrian relations from a broadly realist perspective, the particular variants of which had been labeled as “old-fashioned” and therefore swept aside without a second thought until recently for their perceived inability to offer a reliable account of contemporary international relations. While trying to reveal the persistent trends, practical necessities, mutual interests, and shared threats underlying the historical evolution of this key bilateral relationship from 1945 till date; the following chapters further explore major fluctuations in the larger international context and the complex interplay between the geopolitical variables of each successive phase under scrutiny. Within this framework, particular attention is paid to the lasting – and apparently, still highly determinative – influence of certain considerations in shaping Russian strategies towards the Greater Middle East. The main reason for this is to bring a convincing answer to widespread questions as to the dynamics behind the transformation of the ongoing Syrian crisis into a geopolitical black hole with utterly destructive repercussions for all parties involved, particularly Syria itself and those countries that lie in its immediate neighborhood. Such an academic inquiry is deemed essential at this stage in time, for the Syrian imbroglio is yet to be resolved. Whereas one needs to diagnose the disease accurately, in as rational a manner as possible, before searching for practical ways to cure it.
The impact of the Japanese occupation on contemporary ethnic politics in Malaysia
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2021., 2021.) Yakut, Neslihan.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,; Esenbel, Selçuk,
This study aims to analyze how the Japanese occupation of Malaysia, back then Malaya, created a post-war continuation in the formation of contemporary ethnic politics under Malay political primacy in Malaysia between 1945-1969. The brief Japanese occupation has ramped up the nationalist sentiments and political experiences of not only the Malays but also the Chinese and Indians, who were regarded as transient communities. The Japanese military experience of Malaysia between 1941 and 1945 brought dramatic political changes that were beyond the ability and expectations of pre-war colonial power of Malaysia: The British, which resulted in the decolonization of Malaysia. While independence was achieved as a result of the nationalist movements of all ethnic groups that emerged with the Japanese occupation, the Malays found room to actualize their nationalist agendas in fields of politics, economy, and nation-building. This study observes the role of Japan in the consolidation of ethnic politics in Malaysia under Malay etnocracy by predicating on the impacts of the Japanese invasion.

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