Academic Interactions Between China and Türkiye from a Global South Perspective

Jiayi Zhu; Ahmet Çağrı Soylu

Article Details

Academic Interactions Between China and Türkiye from a Global South Perspective

Authors:

Jiayi Zhu | Ahmet Çağrı Soylu

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Uluslararası İlişkiler (Diğer)

Journal:

Anadolu Strateji Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.117-134

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353188

pISSN:

2687-5721

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This article examines the academic interactions between China and Türkiye from the perspective of the Global South, tracing their historical trajectories and institutional developments. Despite longstanding cultural ties dating back to the ancient Silk Road, scholarly cooperation between the two countries has remained limited and largely shaped by Western-centered epistemological frameworks. The study offers a comparative analysis of Turkish Studies in China and Chinese Studies in Türkiye from 1949 to the present, drawing on extensive empirical data including books, articles, theses, institutional structures, and language programs. The findings reveal persistent structural asymmetries, linguistic barriers, and an overreliance on secondary sources in Western languages. However, since the Belt and Road Initiative, there has been a notable increase in scholarly output, institutional diversification, and mutual interest. This article argues for the need to establish a more balanced, multilingual, and equitable foundation for academic cooperation between China and Türkiye. In doing so, it contributes to broader debates on knowledge production within the Global South and highlights the transformative potential of China and Turkeys scholarly exchange.

 This article examines the academic interactions between China and Türkiye from the perspective of the Global South, tracing their historical trajectories and institutional developments. Despite longstanding cultural ties dating back to the ancient Silk Road, scholarly cooperation between the two countries has remained limited and largely shaped by Western-centered epistemological frameworks. The study offers a comparative analysis of Turkish Studies in China and Chinese Studies in Türkiye from 1949 to the present, drawing on extensive empirical data including books, articles, theses, institutional structures, and language programs. The findings reveal persistent structural asymmetries, linguistic barriers, and an overreliance on secondary sources in Western languages. However, since the Belt and Road Initiative, there has been a notable increase in scholarly output, institutional diversification, and mutual interest. This article argues for the need to establish a more balanced, multilingual, and equitable foundation for academic cooperation between China and Türkiye. In doing so, it contributes to broader debates on knowledge production within the Global South and highlights the transformative potential of China and Turkeys scholarly exchange.

 This article examines the academic interactions between China and Türkiye from the perspective of the Global South, tracing their historical trajectories and institutional developments. Despite longstanding cultural ties dating back to the ancient Silk Road, scholarly cooperation between the two countries has remained limited and largely shaped by Western-centered epistemological frameworks. The study offers a comparative analysis of Turkish Studies in China and Chinese Studies in Türkiye from 1949 to the present, drawing on extensive empirical data including books, articles, theses, institutional structures, and language programs. The findings reveal persistent structural asymmetries, linguistic barriers, and an overreliance on secondary sources in Western languages. However, since the Belt and Road Initiative, there has been a notable increase in scholarly output, institutional diversification, and mutual interest. This article argues for the need to establish a more balanced, multilingual, and equitable foundation for academic cooperation between China and Türkiye. In doing so, it contributes to broader debates on knowledge production within the Global South and highlights the transformative potential of China and Turkeys scholarly exchange.

 Bu makale, Çin ve Türkiye arasındaki akademik etkileşimleri Küresel Güney perspektifi çerçevesinde tarihsel ve kurumsal gelişimiyle birlikte incelemektedir. Antik İpek Yoluna dayanan uzun tarihsel ilişkilere rağmen, iki ülke arasındaki akademik işbirliği oldukça sınırlı kalmış, çoğu zaman Batı merkezli epistemolojik çerçevelerin etkisi altında şekillenmiştir. Çalışma, 1949dan günümüze kadar Çindeki Türkiye çalışmaları ile Türkiyedeki Çin çalışmalarını karşılaştırmalı bir biçimde analiz etmekte; kitap, makale ve tez üretimleri, akademik kurumlar ve dil eğitimi gibi alanlarda geniş bir ampirik veri setine dayanmaktadır. Araştırma bulguları, her iki ülkede de bilgi üretiminin Batı literatürüne olan bağımlılığı, kaynak dillerdeki eksiklikler ve yapısal eşitsizlikler nedeniyle sınırlı kaldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bununla birlikte, Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi sonrası dönemde akademik yayınlarda niceliksel bir artış, kurumsal girişimlerde çeşitlenme ve karşılıklı ilgi artışı gözlemlenmektedir. Bu çalışma, Çin ve Türkiye arasında daha dengeli, çok dilli ve eşitlikçi bir akademik işbirliği zemini oluşturmanın yollarını tartışmakta ve Küresel Güneydeki bilgi üretimine katkı sunmaktadır.

Article Details

Academic Interactions Between China and Türkiye from a Global South Perspective

Authors:

Jiayi Zhu | Ahmet Çağrı Soylu

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Uluslararası İlişkiler (Diğer)

Journal:

Anadolu Strateji Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.117-134

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353188

pISSN:

2687-5721

Sino-Turkish relations

Global South

Sinology

TurkologyÇin-Türkiye ilişkileri

Küresel Güney

Sinoloji

Türkoloji

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Jiayi Zhu | Ahmet Çağrı Soylu

Publisher: Anadolu University

Main Topics: Uluslararası İlişkiler (Diğer)

Journal: Anadolu Strateji Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.117-134

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001353188

pISSN: 2687-5721

Issues

Authors:

Jiayi Zhu | Ahmet Çağrı Soylu

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Uluslararası İlişkiler (Diğer)

Journal:

Anadolu Strateji Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.117-134

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353188

pISSN:

2687-5721