Turkish NGOs in global governance - insights from ECOSOC engagements

Abstract

This article offers the first empirical analysis of Turkish NGOs' engagement with global governance through the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Addressing a significant gap in the literature, it examines Turkish NGOs' access to and participation in ECOSOC-an underexplored area despite Turkey's expanding role within the UN system. The analysis draws on previously unexamined UN archival materials from ECOSOC meetings between 1995 and 2024 and incorporates 21 interviews with Turkish NGOs that hold or seek ECOSOC consultative status. Together, these sources provide robust evidence on the evolving roles, challenges, and strategies of Turkish NGOs in global governance.