Turkey’s Crisis Management in the Mosul Hostage Crisis

In this study, the Hostage Crisis triggered by the occupation of the Mosul Consulate of Turkey is analyzed. In this crisis, Turkey's adversary is an armed non-state actor and the incident occurred in the neighboring Iraqi territory. The occupation of Iraqi territory by an armed non-state actor (ISIS) has created a challenge against the fundamental characteristics of state phenomenon both in this geographical territory and throughout the region. This challenge was not limited to the territory of the occupied state. It has also led to a foreign policy crisis between Turkey and the armed non-state actor (ISIS). In the crisis management process, Turkey used different methods and tools to manage the crisis and ensure the rescue of the hostages. Turkey did not want to engage directly in the management process of this crisis and avoided the traditional diplomatic-political instruments and methods. For this reason, Turkey has managed the process of crisis through the intelligence service (MIT). It was seen that the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) was prominent as an ad hoc mechanism during the crisis management process. In this study, the pressures created by the international system and regional sub-system, the struggle for territory and power in the region, the relationship between the government and opposition in Turkey, the presence of ISIS militants within the borders of the country and the analysis of the crisis management and decision process related to the Mosul Hostage Crisis were taken into consideration