Russian Soft Power in Turkey

Recent academic research on Russian soft power has primarily focused on its influence within the post-Soviet space, highlighting efforts to maintain regional dominance. However, in a shifting global landscape—marked by the relative decline of Western hegemony and growing scepticism toward liberal norms—Russia's soft power has expanded globally. This study fills a key gap by exploring how post-Soviet Russia’s image has evolved in Turkey, a country outside Russia’s traditional sphere of influence. Drawing on empirical data and in-depth interviews, the study situates Russian soft power within the broader discourse of multipolarity and frames it as an alternative to the Western-led liberal international order. In Turkey, where authoritarian tendencies and tensions with the West persist, Russia’s narrative finds a receptive audience. The transformation of Turkish-Russian relations—from historic animosity to strategic cooperation—alongside increasingly positive perceptions of Russia illustrates this shift. However, despite these gains, Russian soft power faces significant limitations: assertive foreign policy, entanglement in regional conflicts, instrumental use of soft power, disregard for local dynamics, and lack of strategic coherence. This research critically examines these complexities, offering a nuanced understanding of Russian soft power’s reach and limitations in Turkey, and contributing to broader discussions on global power reconfigurations.

近年来有关俄罗斯软实力（soft power）的学术研究主要聚焦于其后苏联空间（post-Soviet space）内的影响力，着重探讨其维护地区主导地位的相关举措。然而，在西方霸权（Western hegemony）相对式微、各方对自由规范（liberal norms）的质疑日益加剧的不断演变的全球格局中，俄罗斯的软实力已向全球范围扩张。本研究聚焦俄罗斯传统势力范围之外的土耳其，探讨后苏联时代俄罗斯的国家形象演变，填补了该领域的关键研究空白。本研究依托实证数据与深度访谈，将俄罗斯软实力置于多极化（multipolarity）的宏观话语框架之中，并将其定位为西方主导的自由国际秩序（liberal international order）的替代性选择。在土耳其——该国持续存在威权主义倾向（authoritarian tendencies）且与西方关系紧张——俄罗斯的叙事能够获得乐于接纳的受众群体。土俄关系从历史宿怨转向战略协作，加之土耳其民众对俄罗斯的观感日益积极，这一转变可见一斑。尽管取得上述进展，俄罗斯的软实力仍面临诸多显著局限：强硬的外交政策、深陷地区冲突泥潭、对软实力的工具化运用、无视当地具体情势，以及缺乏战略连贯性。本研究批判性地剖析了这些复杂面向，对俄罗斯软实力在土耳其的影响力边界与局限形成了细致入微的认知，并为全球权力格局重构的相关宏观讨论提供了有益补充。