Quarterly Journal of West Asian Studies
(Faṣlnāmah-i Gharb-i Asiyā)

Quarterly Journal of West Asian Studies (Faṣlnāmah-i Gharb-i Asiyā)

Reconfiguring Legitimacy in the Transitional Global Order: Turkey and the Discourse of 'The world is bigger than five'

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran.
Abstract
The slogan "A World Larger than Five," frequently used in Turkish political discourse, operates beyond mere verbal criticism of the UN Security Council, offering a multi-layered narrative about global governance, legitimacy, and the distribution of power. This research aims to analyze the discursive and geopolitical meanings of this slogan and examine its role in Turkish foreign policy. The study employs a qualitative approach utilizing interpretive discourse analysis. The theoretical framework is built upon a combination of International Relations theories, including constructivism, semiotics and Laclau and Mouffe discourse. Research data were extracted from political texts, official speeches, and theoretical literature pertaining to global governance and Turkish foreign policy, and were analytically interpreted. The findings indicate that the slogan "A World Larger Than Five" operates simultaneously on multiple levels: first, as a symbolic critique of the concentration of power in the Security Council; second, as a discursive instrument for Turkey's geopolitical positioning as a middle power; and third, as a communicative mechanism to garner support from Global South countries for the reform of international institutions. In conclusion, this slogan can be regarded as a form of strategic discourse through which Turkey seeks both to challenge the legitimacy of existing global governance structures and to redefine its diplomatic and identity status within the transitioning international order. This article, by presenting a three-level model and integrating three theoretical frameworks, goes beyond previous research to demonstrate that the main function of the slogan in question lies not in its superficial content, but in its discursive structure and the process of others. In this way, it has become a tool for redefining Turkey's strategic identity within the emerging global order
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  • Receive Date 03 July 2026
  • Revise Date 27 August 2026
  • Accept Date 27 August 2026
  • First Publish Date 27 August 2026
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025