This thesis analyzes the evolution of the relationship between the Hashemite regime and the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood from 1946 to 2007. Reformist and pragmatic rhetoric of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood distinct from the most of other Muslim Brotherhood branches operating in different countries in the Middle East enabled it to set up relatively harmonious relations with the Hashemite regime without being declared as illegal even in crisis periods. While focusing on this interesting case, this study reveals that the relationship between the Hashemite regime and the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood is mostly affected and shaped by two variables: regime survival concern and the regional context. In this regard, it maintains that the relations between the two parties have evolved around the policies of coexistence, cooperation, control and repression as well as containment with respect to the change in regime&rsquo / s survival concern and regional developments related to the Palestinian issue. This thesis argues that the period from 1946, when the Muslim Brotherhood was legalized as a charitable organization in Jordan, to the end of 1980s is generally marked with a coherent and cooperative relations between the two parties since their interests overlapped. However, since the beginning of 1990s the relationship began to deteriorate due to a shift in the interests of both parties as a result of developments in the regional context, namely Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the rise of political Islam globally.

Knowledge is defined one of the fundamental resources for development, competitiveness and power of firms, industrial clusters and regions. Their competitiveness and development have a strong relationship with their ability to create, absorb and utilize knowledge and to learn, i.e. their cognitive capabilities. This thesis is focused on clusters as cognitive and learning systems. Clusters are the agglomerations where collective learning may take place. New knowledge is created and shared within the clusters&#039 / knowledge networks. Knowledge networks and cognitive communities as a part of these networks are seen as the significant topics in the literature to explain both the cognitive processes in firms, in industrial clusters and between industrial clusters. The main aim of the thesis is to explore the creation, absorption and transfer of knowledge in networks and cognitive communities in industrial clusters based on different technologies. To achieve this aim two empirical studies on different clusters with different technologies have been elaborated. The first one is an ICT cluster in METUTech and the second one is agricultural tools and machinery cluster in Konya. The data for the analysis collected through two different types of questionnaire, firm questionnaire and employee questionnaire. The first questionnaire is realized with producer firms in those sectors. The second questionnaire is conducted with the engineers. The data acquired from the questionnaire were evaluated based on descriptive analysis, correlation and social network analysis. Results are used to evaluate and compare the knowledge structures and cognitive communities in those clusters.

This thesis attempts to analyze the continuity of nationality policies of Kazakhstan between Soviet and post-Soviet periods. As for the Soviet past the Soviet template of nationality policies was deeply rooted in Kazakhstan. Considering the Soviet template of nationality policies, this study conceptualizes the structure of it as first among equals under Russian hegemony. With regard to post-Soviet period, this thesis claims that the nation building policies were not born out of its ashes contrary to the mainstream arguments. This study aims to reveal how the post-Soviet nation building in Kazakhstan is still proceeding along with the Soviet template. Evaluating nation building process of independent Kazakhstan, this study emphasizes the rising titular hegemony of Kazakhs. In other words, this study attempts to analyze the transformation of first among equals taking into account the ethnic and civic aspects of nation-building oscillations

In the current study, it was aimed to explore young adults&rsquo / communication technology preferences in friendships. With this aim, two survey studies were conducted on university students. In the first study 178 students and in the second study 343 students were surveyed. The findings of both studies demonstrated that (a) face-to-face communication was the most preferred communication,(b) preference for face-to-face communication was positively associated to preference for auditory communication, and negatively associated to preference for written communication, (c) several individual difference variables contributed to relative preferences for face-to-face over mediated communication in negative situations. General &lsquo / ndividual difference variables in relation to Relative Preferences were found to fit into a two-factor higher-order structure. The higher order constructs were Social Openness (the factors tapping to individuals&rsquo / motivation to engage in interpersonal interactions even when those interactions are challenging) and Individuated Functioning (the factors tapping to individuals&rsquo / motivation for personal growth). Relative Preference increased with increases in Social Openness and in Individuated Functioning. Communicaiton-specific individual difference factors underling the associations among Social Openness, Individauted Functioning and Relative Preferences were explored. Results suggested that Social Openness &ndash / but not Individuated Functioning- was indirectly linked to Relative Preferences via Perceived Difficulty of Communication Situations (Study1) / Social Openness was indirectly, and Individuated Functioning was both directly and indirectly linked to Relative Preferences via Difficulty in Handling Negative Situations (Study 2). Theoretical and practical implications of studies were discussed considering the previous literature.

The objective of this study is to examine the impact of Europeanization of Turkish energy policies on Turkey-EU relations. In order to do so, the thesis focuses mainly on Europeanization as a concept and Europeanization of foreign policy as important features in explaining the changes in the Turkish energy policies. While doing so, first this study tries to explore the European Union energy policies and make an overview of the EU energy production and consumption situation within the energy distribution of the world. Second, the study looks through the Turkish energy policy framework and provides a portrait of Turkey as a key player between energy producer and consumer countries. Also, the relation of Turkish energy policy and EU energy policy are evaluated with respect to the questions: &ldquo / to what extent Turkish energy policies are Europeanized? And what are the possible impacts of Turkish energy policies and their Europeanization of Turkey&rsquo / s quest for the membership?&rdquo / For the first question Europeanization is discussed mainly by Radaelli&rsquo / s definition. The review of the literature and the interviews show that Turkey has contributed much to its Europeanization process regarding the energy policies, and Turkish energy policy making reveal distinctive characteristics of Europeanization. However, for the second question, studies exhibit that there is a discrepancy of ideas among scholars and it is important to counterbalance them properly.

The present study aimed to integrate situational and dispositional perspectives on the investigation of unethical and dishonest behavior through an experimental and a correlational study. More explicitly, the current study explored the effects of state self-control and social influence on cheating, and investigated the trait self control and conformity as predictors of academic dishonesty. Two preliminary studies were conducted. First, a pilot study with 230 undergraduate students was conducted to assess the reliability of the Turkish versions of the four scales intended to measure the constructs of interest. All four scales were found to have sufficient reliabilities. A second preliminary study was conducted to observe and to ameliorate the effects of two manipulations constructed for the main study, namely the rewriting task (depletory versus neutral) and the norm induction (deciding to cheat, not to cheat or to meet with a friend after the study). The main study was conducted with 87 undergraduate students. Correlational results underlined the importance of low self-control and high susceptibility to social influence as predictors of past behavior of academic dishonesty. Experimental results revealed that first, groups

This thesis aims to analyze German Conservatism and the impact of Germany&rsquo / s policies towards Turkey&rsquo / s membership. The point of departure is privileged partnership which is offered to Turkey in replace of membership to the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a prominent defender of privileged partnership and previous Chancellor Gerhard Schr&ouml / der who supported Turkey&rsquo / s accession, had a totally different attitude. It is questioned whether this sharp change in foreign policy derives from German Conservatism and Christian Democracy. As a result, it is not possible to claim an essentialist opposition to Turkey&rsquo / s accession by German Christian Democrats but privileged partnership is a product of German Conservative thinking which sees European Integration as a cultural project.

The upward movement in oil and food prices in the 2000s has triggered interest in the information transmission mechanism between the two markets. This research investigates the volatility spillover between oil, food, and agricultural raw material price indexes for the period January 1980 to April 2008. The results of the Cheung-Ng procedure show that variation in oil prices does not Granger cause the variance in food and agricultural raw material prices. However, there is bi-directional spillover between agricultural raw material and oil markets. Besides, it examines volatility spillover between maize, wheat, soybean, rice, and oil spot prices for the period January-1998 to February-2009. The results show that volatility spillover in oil returns leads fluctuations in maize, soybean, wheat, and rice returns in 3 months. In addition, there are bi-directional spillovers between oil and soybean returns, rice and wheat returns. This topic is essential for countries whose populations grow rapidly because forecasting of commodity prices plays an important role in instituting the economic policy. Also, understanding the dynamics of the economy leads to better economic policies. Thus, results are important for investors and policy makers interested in price shocks and transmission.

This thesis presents a defense of the view that externalism cannot be a theoretical basis of a mentalistic causal-explanatory science, even though such a theoretical basis is implicitly or explicitly adopted by many cognitive scientists. Externalism is a theory in philosophy of mind which states that mental properties are relations between the core realizers of an individual&rsquo / s mental states (such as brain states) and certain things that exist outside those realizers (such as what the content of a mental state corresponds to in the actual world.) After clarifications regarding the term &ldquo / externalism&rdquo / and reviewing the history and the various forms of the externalist theory, it is argued that the properties offered by externalist theories as mental properties have no causal influence on behavior, and therefore cannot causally explain it. The argument is largely based on a method of comparing the causal powers of entities which are identical in all respects except their mental properties (as construed by externalism), and the conclusions are supported by metaphysical reflections on causation, dispositions, relational properties and historical properties. Objections to the defended view are considered and refuted. The thesis is written in the style of modern analytic philosophy.

This thesis analyzes the integration process of Iraqi Turkomans living in Ankara and how social networks effect these processes. The reasons of their migration from Iraq after 1980s and the migration process are also discussed in order to clarify their level of integration in Turkey. The research for this thesis is based on the analysis of questionnaires and in-depth interviews that were done with the members of Iraqi Turks Culture and Assistance Association and who have close relations with it. It was thought that strong networks among family members and friends would be a facilitating factor for their integration to different aspects of social life such as housing and labour market, social security and health system, education system in Turkey. It is found that besides social networks / cultural and linguistic similarities of Turkomans plays an important role for their integration process. More importantly, acquiring Turkish citizenship is a crucial factor to participate to social life and makes integration easier.