New Directions in Development: Comparing the Engagement of Turkey, the EU, and China with the Global South

Event Type
Panel session & Roundtable

Location / Date
Istanbul, 15.09.2025 until 16.09.2025

Organizer

Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

Background

In an era marked by profound geopolitical shifts and mounting global crises, traditional alliances and narratives are being tested and, in many cases, reshaped. The Global South, a large, diverse and dynamic collection of developing and emerging economies, is increasingly central to global geopolitics and economic development. As traditional power structures evolve and multilateralism erode, new and established actors are actively forging partnerships and pursuing strategic interests within this space. Against this backdrop, the Istanbul Policy Center-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative (IPC), in collaboration with the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) and the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), is convening a workshop titled "New Directions in Development: Comparing Turkey’s, the EU’s, China’s engagement in and with the Global South." This timely dialogue brings together policymakers, scholars, and experts to explore how these influential actors navigate the evolving global order, assess the potential for strategic realignment, and consider prospects for more resilient and inclusive international cooperation.

This event aims to explore and compare the approaches of three significant players: Turkey, the European Union (EU), and China, in their engagement with the Global South. While all three actors engage with the Global South, their motivations, modalities, and institutional structures differ significantly.

  • Turkey has positioned itself as a strategically autonomous middle power in a world increasingly defined by polycrisis and instability, such as the war in Ukraine, U.S.–China rivalry, and the erosion of rules-based multilateralism. This became more evident with the changing role of the USA in the region. Beyond its cultural and geographical ties with the region, pragmatic collaborations built on mutual interests play a major role in Turkey’s engagement with the global south.
  • The EU, as a major development actor and proponent of multilateralism, has traditionally framed its engagement in close alignment with the global development agenda and linked to its value- and market-driven interests. However, this approach to engagement has lost political traction in the past few years, both internally in the EU, where more interest-driven cooperation agendas are now emphasised, and among its partners in view of difficulties in delivering concrete change on the ground through its programs and projects (e.g., Global Gateway). Finally, resentments on felt double standards on the part of Global partners (e.g., the war in Gaza) also affect the EU’s legitimacy and effectiveness.
  • China, as a rising global power, has rapidly expanded its influence in the Global South through massive infrastructure investments, trade, and a narrative of "win-win" cooperation and formal non-interference in domestic politics. Its approach has prioritized economic development and state-led partnerships, offering an alternative to traditional Western models. It has also raised concerns about the longer-term sustainability of Chinese-funded projects and the fiscal and financial trade-offs, especially for low- and middle-income countries with weaker governance and limited fiscal space. This critique has recently been countered by China’s new emphasis on ‘small and beautiful’ projects.

Further distinguishing and understanding these distinct approaches is crucial for policymakers, academics, and practitioners seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of international cooperation and development.

Aim of the event and targeted audience

This event is intended for policymakers, diplomats, academics, researchers, development practitioners, business leaders, and students interested in international relations, development studies, and the geopolitics of the Global South. It aims to:

  • Provide a comparative analysis of Turkey’s, the EU's, and China's strategic interests and priorities in their engagement with the Global South.
  • Examine the key instruments and modalities employed by each actor, with possible areas focusing on economic relations, such as development cooperation and trade.
  • Analyse the perception and plausible patterns of impact of these engagements within the Global South, considering both opportunities and challenges.
  • Discuss the potential for convergence, competition, and complementarity among these actors in their interactions with the Global South.
  • Foster a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics of South-South and North-South cooperation in a multipolar world.

Format of the event and guiding questions

The event will be organised over two days. On Day 1, a high-level panel session will be held in the afternoon at the IPC premises. The panel will consist of decision-makers from Turkey, the European Union (e.g., the EU Delegation in Turkey), and China, together with key experts from IPC and the ETTG network. A networking cocktail will follow it.

On Day 2, at IPC premises, ETTG, IPC, and IDOS will organise a full-day (9.00-16.00) closed-door roundtable under the Chatham House rule. Up to 35 participants from Turkey, the EU, and China will participate, and experts from the MERICS network will also be invited. 

To structure the discussions and delve into the core aspects of the topic, here are some guiding questions categorized by actor and cross-cutting themes:

  • Geopolitical Implications: How do the different approaches of Turkey, the EU, and China contribute to the evolving global order and the influence of the Global South?
  • Economic Partnerships: What are the trade and investment dynamics between each actor and the Global South? What are the implications for economic development and dependency?
  • Development Effectiveness: How can we assess the impact of the different engagement strategies on the ground in the Global South?
  • Sustainability and Inclusivity: To what extent do the approaches of Turkey, the EU, and China promote sustainable and inclusive development in the Global South?
  • Perceptions and Narratives: How do different actors within the Global South perceive Turkey, the EU, and China? What narratives do they promote about their engagement?
  • Future Directions: What are the potential future trajectories of engagement between Turkey, the EU, China, and the Global South? Are there opportunities for greater cooperation?

 

15 September 2025 16:00-19:30, Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman Meeting Room
[public event]

16.00-16.20 Welcome addresses

  • Senem Aydın-Düzgit, Director, Istanbul Policy Center
  • Iliana Olivié, Director, European Think Tanks Group

16.20 - 17.40 Panel discussion

  • Selim Yenel, Former Ambassador and the current Chair of the Executive Board at the Global Relations Forum (GRF), Turkey
  • Kerry Brown, King’s College London, UK
  • Meltem Müftüler-Baç, Professor, Sabancı University

Moderator: Stephan Klingebiel, Head of Department, IDOS

17.40 - 18.00 Questions and answers from the audience

18.00 - 19.30 Networking cocktail

 

Hinweis

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