Seeking Autonomy in the Semi-Periphery: Neomercantilism and Diversification in Turkey

This article considers Turkey as an archetypal example of the semi-periphery, neither entirely beholden to international rules and norms nor free to set them. We focus on three leading export sectors – textiles and garments, automotives and infrastructure – and analyze how the Turkish state and associated industrial firms have worked to navigate the complicated demands of cost-competitiveness while increasing the production of value-added goods. We find that the Turkish state and firms have adopted a mix of strategies for integrating with export markets, combining neoliberal adherence to the rules and norms of Western markets through global value chains with neomercantilist efforts to direct cross-border trade and investment toward the Balkans, Middle East, and Central Asia. Although neoliberalism and neomercantilism are traditionally treated as opposing approaches to international economic integration, we find that, for semi-peripheral countries like Turkey, these strategies are not contradictory but rather complementary, as they reduce exposure to the volatility and dependence upon Western markets. While the success of these efforts varies across industries and types of firms, we suggest that such dualistic approaches may be a key strategy for semi-peripheral countries seeking to minimize their dependence on Western markets while exerting economic influence in their near abroad.