Balancing Aspiration and Reality: Autarky in Turkish Defence Industrial Policy

Abstract

Countries with limited financial resources, internal markets, and human resources, such as Turkey, face significant challenges in achieving defence autarky and competing with multinational corporations in the international arms market. Consequently, the literature suggests that these countries should adjust their defence industrialisation goals to match their financial capabilities. However, Turkish decision-makers maintain a public discourse emphasising the goal of defence autarky despite the defence industry’s financial crises and structural problems. Even though there is a growing recognition of the limits of the pursuit of defence autarky, Turkey still needs to devise a defence industrial policy focusing on niche markets. This paper argues that the persistent rhetoric of defence autarky enjoys very strong public appeal in domestic politics. Defence industrialisation, coupled with nationalism, creates a zone of impunity for the ruling party. This dynamic allows the ruling party to deflect criticism by highlighting successes in defence production, directly appealing to nationalist sentiments. Ultimately, the political gains for the ruling elites outweigh financial limitations, preventing an open shift toward a more moderate defence industrialisation goal. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.