Turkey and African agency: the role of Islam and commercialism in Turkey's Africa policy

Abstract The concept of ‘agency’ and its role in capturing the dynamics between Africa external actors feature increasingly African IR scholarship. Over past decade, Turkey has become an prominent actor Africa, strengthening political, cultural economic ties with states providing humanitarian aid development assistance. In this paper, we examine Turkey's relationship from point view agency ask ‘How much what kind can identify by examining way which approaches states?’ conventional understanding defines it materialist terms emphasises transactional nature; does not adequately explain incidents enhanced outcomes for Africans their Turkey. We argue that under-examined aspect a vital source lies within discourses Turkish policy provide enabling space negotiation Africans. demonstrate notion Muslim kinship only distinguishes most other powers engaging continent but also enables interlocutors to negotiate outcomes.