Abstract:

Public Diplomacy which continues to increase its importance alongside traditional diplomacy, become essential part of foreign policy of states. There are many activities in this content carried by governmental and nongovernmental institutions to gain consent of people. The article first defines the concept of public diplomacy in its diverse angles, then discusses the scholarship programs as they are considered important part of this emerging phenomenon. In this context, different countries’ scholarship programs and their implementations in Turkic Council member states will be analyzed. Turkic Council member countries’ scholarships programs, particularly Turkiye Scholarships will also be assessed. The views of students who benefited from this program, which also be evaluated in terms of educational sociology will be shared. This article tries to compare scholarship programs of external powers and member states. Effectiveness of member states’ scholarship programs, if any, on development of bilateral and multilateral relations will be questioned. Analyses will be on country and regional level. Possibility of creating new exchange programs for Turkic Council member states will be evaluated. Suggestions will be made for such program’s structure that are suitable to regional conditions and considering similar programs implemented by different actors. The aim of the study is to raise awareness about the development of relations through scholarship programs and to contribute to the development of joint exchange programs.

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