The Historical Analysis of the Turkish National Police's Contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
Abstract
This study analyzes Türkiye’s evolving role in global peace and security by examining the historical contributions of the Turkish National Police (TNP) to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UN PKOs). Since its initial deployment in the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) in 1996, the TNP has participated in numerous missions, contributing to the promotion of public order, the rule of law, and human rights. Particular emphasis is placed on Türkiye’s involvement in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the mission with the highest number of TNP personnel deployed, as well as the increasing engagement of female police officers in line with the UN’s gender mainstreaming policies. The study adopts a qualitative approach, supplemented by quantitative data extracted from the UN’s official “Troop and Police Contributors” database. These data, compiled and analyzed by the author, are presented through tables and graphs. By utilizing previously unexplored data, this research provides an original, interdisciplinary, and data-driven contribution to a relatively underexamined area within Turkish academic literature. The study concludes with policy recommendations to enhance Türkiye’s future participation in UN PKOs.
Keywords
Turkish National Police Peacekeeping Operations United Nations UNPOL International Security
References
- Aslantaş, A. (2019). BM Barışı Koruma Operasyonlarının Yerel Polis Kapasitesinin Geliştirilmesine Etkisinin Analizi: Haiti Örneği, The Journal of Diplomatic Research, 1 (1), 61-84.
- Aslantaş, A. (2025). The Role and Impact of Police Forces in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: A Comparative Analysis of the Haiti and Kosovo, Bursa: Dora Yayınevi.
- Aslantaş A. & Özdal B. (2023). The Effectiveness of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Building the Capacity of Local Police Forces: Case of Kosovo, Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi, 19 (45), 255-298.
- Bellamy, A. J., & Williams, P. D. (2010). Understanding Peacekeeping (2nd ed.). Polity Press.
- Dışişleri Bakanlığı. (2021). Türkiye-Afrika İlişkileri, https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye-afrika-iliskileri.tr.mfa, (Access date: 15.05.2025).
- Durch, W. J. (2006). Twenty-First-Century Peace Operations. United States Institute of Peace and The Henry L. Stimson Center.
- Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü. (2020). Birleşmiş Milletler Polis Eğitimcileri Sertifikasyon Çalışma Toplantısı, https://www.egm.gov.tr/birlesmis-milletler-polis-egitimcileri-sertifikasyon-calisma-toplantisi-gerceklestirildi, (Access date: 10.03.2025).
- Findlay, T. (2002). The Use of Force in UN Peace Operations.Oxford University Press.
- Hunt, Charles T. (2024). Specialized Police Teams in UN Peace Operations: A Survey of Progress and Challenges, International Police Institute, 1-37.
- Turgay, S. (2025). Birleşmiş Milletler Güney Sudan Barışı Koruma Operasyonu: Mandanın Uygulanmasına UNPOL’un Katkıları. Çankırı Karatekin Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 16 (1), 110-127.
- United Nations. (1992). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/dec-1992.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2000). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/pk_nationalcontrib_2000-12_p-o-t-tot-rank_dec2000.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2008). United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Principles and Guidelines. https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/capstone_eng_0.pdf, (Access date: 24.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2010). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/dec10_5.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2014). Strategic Guidance Framework for International Policing, https://police.un.org/en/strategic-guidance-framework-international-policing, (Access date: 24.02.2025).
- United Nations. (2017). Assessment of Operational Capability of Formed Police Units for Service in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions, https://police.un.org/sites/default/files/fpu_sop_aoc_2016.pdf, (Access date: 18.01.2025).
- United Nations. (2020). Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (A/55/305 - S/2000/809), https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/a_55_305_e_brahimi_report.pdf, (Access date: 22.02.2025).
- United Nations. (2024). Specialized Police Teams on Assignment with UN Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions, https://police.un.org/sites/default/files/2019.34_guidelines_on_specialized_police_teams.pdf, (Access date: 24.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2025). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/03_country_and_mission_82_january_2025.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2025). The History of UN Peacekeeping Missions, https://police.un.org/en/our-history, (Access date: 27.01.2025).
- Weinlich, S. (2014). The Institutional Dimension: The Creation of the Standing Police Capacity. In: The UN Secretariat’s Influence on the Evolution of Peacekeeping. (110-132). Springer.
- Yalçınkaya H., Hatipoglu E., Arıkan D. & Çelikpala M. (2018). : “Turkish Efforts in Peacekeeping and the Introduction of the TUBAKOV Dataset: An Exploratory Analysis,” International Peacekeeping, Cilt 25, Sayı 4, 475-496.
- Yılmaz, A.G. & Agwanda B. (2021). Türkiye’s contribution to international policing, Global Change, Peace & Security, 33:2, 143-161.
Abstract
Bu çalışma, Türk Polis Teşkilatı’nın (TPT) Birleşmiş Milletler Barışı Koruma Operasyonlarına (BM BKO) yaptığı tarihsel katkılar üzerinden Türkiye'nin küresel barış ve güvenlik alanındaki dönüşen rolünü analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Türk polisinin ilk olarak 1996 yılında Bosna-Hersek’teki Birleşmiş Milletler Misyonu’na (UNMIBH) katılımıyla başlayan süreçte, TPT birçok operasyona iştirak etmiş ve kamu düzeninin sağlanması, hukukun üstünlüğü ve insan haklarının korunması konularında uluslararası çabalara önemli katkılar sunmuştur. Çalışma, özellikle Türkiye'nin en fazla personel katkısında bulunduğu Kosova’daki Birleşmiş Milletler Geçici Yönetim Misyonu’na (UNMIK) katılımına ve BM’nin toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği politikaları doğrultusunda kadın polis memurlarının artan katılımına odaklanmaktadır. Nitel bir araştırma yöntemi benimsenen çalışmada, BM’nin resmî “Askeri ve Polis Katkı Sağlayan Ülkeler” veri tabanından elde edilen nicel veriler de kullanılmış; bu veriler yazar tarafından derlenmiş ve tablolar ile grafikler aracılığıyla sunulmuştur. Bu yönüyle çalışma, daha önce kullanılmamış verilere dayanan özgün bir katkı sunmakta; Türk akademik literatüründe yeterince incelenmemiş bir konuya disiplinler arası ve veri temelli bir yaklaşım getirmektedir. Çalışma, Türkiye'nin gelecekteki BM BKO'larına katılımını güçlendirmeye yönelik politika önerileriyle sona ermektedir.
Keywords
Türk Polis Teşkilatı Birleşmiş Milletler Barış Operasyonları BM Polisi Uluslararası Güvenlik
References
- Aslantaş, A. (2019). BM Barışı Koruma Operasyonlarının Yerel Polis Kapasitesinin Geliştirilmesine Etkisinin Analizi: Haiti Örneği, The Journal of Diplomatic Research, 1 (1), 61-84.
- Aslantaş, A. (2025). The Role and Impact of Police Forces in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: A Comparative Analysis of the Haiti and Kosovo, Bursa: Dora Yayınevi.
- Aslantaş A. & Özdal B. (2023). The Effectiveness of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Building the Capacity of Local Police Forces: Case of Kosovo, Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi, 19 (45), 255-298.
- Bellamy, A. J., & Williams, P. D. (2010). Understanding Peacekeeping (2nd ed.). Polity Press.
- Dışişleri Bakanlığı. (2021). Türkiye-Afrika İlişkileri, https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye-afrika-iliskileri.tr.mfa, (Access date: 15.05.2025).
- Durch, W. J. (2006). Twenty-First-Century Peace Operations. United States Institute of Peace and The Henry L. Stimson Center.
- Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü. (2020). Birleşmiş Milletler Polis Eğitimcileri Sertifikasyon Çalışma Toplantısı, https://www.egm.gov.tr/birlesmis-milletler-polis-egitimcileri-sertifikasyon-calisma-toplantisi-gerceklestirildi, (Access date: 10.03.2025).
- Findlay, T. (2002). The Use of Force in UN Peace Operations.Oxford University Press.
- Hunt, Charles T. (2024). Specialized Police Teams in UN Peace Operations: A Survey of Progress and Challenges, International Police Institute, 1-37.
- Turgay, S. (2025). Birleşmiş Milletler Güney Sudan Barışı Koruma Operasyonu: Mandanın Uygulanmasına UNPOL’un Katkıları. Çankırı Karatekin Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 16 (1), 110-127.
- United Nations. (1992). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/dec-1992.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2000). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/pk_nationalcontrib_2000-12_p-o-t-tot-rank_dec2000.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2008). United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Principles and Guidelines. https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/capstone_eng_0.pdf, (Access date: 24.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2010). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/dec10_5.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2014). Strategic Guidance Framework for International Policing, https://police.un.org/en/strategic-guidance-framework-international-policing, (Access date: 24.02.2025).
- United Nations. (2017). Assessment of Operational Capability of Formed Police Units for Service in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions, https://police.un.org/sites/default/files/fpu_sop_aoc_2016.pdf, (Access date: 18.01.2025).
- United Nations. (2020). Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (A/55/305 - S/2000/809), https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/a_55_305_e_brahimi_report.pdf, (Access date: 22.02.2025).
- United Nations. (2024). Specialized Police Teams on Assignment with UN Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions, https://police.un.org/sites/default/files/2019.34_guidelines_on_specialized_police_teams.pdf, (Access date: 24.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2025). Troop and Police Contributors, https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/03_country_and_mission_82_january_2025.pdf, (Access date: 22.03.2025).
- United Nations. (2025). The History of UN Peacekeeping Missions, https://police.un.org/en/our-history, (Access date: 27.01.2025).
- Weinlich, S. (2014). The Institutional Dimension: The Creation of the Standing Police Capacity. In: The UN Secretariat’s Influence on the Evolution of Peacekeeping. (110-132). Springer.
- Yalçınkaya H., Hatipoglu E., Arıkan D. & Çelikpala M. (2018). : “Turkish Efforts in Peacekeeping and the Introduction of the TUBAKOV Dataset: An Exploratory Analysis,” International Peacekeeping, Cilt 25, Sayı 4, 475-496.
- Yılmaz, A.G. & Agwanda B. (2021). Türkiye’s contribution to international policing, Global Change, Peace & Security, 33:2, 143-161.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Security Studies |
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | May 30, 2025 |
| Publication Date | May 31, 2025 |
| Submission Date | April 15, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | May 27, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 |
