Analysis of relations between the countries of the organization of Turkic States and Israel from a media Big data perspective

This study aims to examine the relations of the member and observer countries of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) with Israel, based on Big Data and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). To this end, the study aims to analyze the bilateral diplomatic relations of the OTS countries with Israel and their capacity for collective action. In this context, the study analyzed the GDELT (Global Database of Events, Location, and Tone) Big Data database, which monitors global media and event data in real time. Changes in the foreign policy rhetoric and attitudes of the OTS countries towards Israel were examined in two separate periods: before and after the Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October 2023. This process analysis is based on an examination of the nature of events and media tone in the OTS countries’ relations with Israel. A diplomatic interaction map was created to reveal the diplomatic tendencies and collective behavior potential of the OTS countries during the specified periods. This was done using the Goldstein scale, which measures the impact of events in news reports, and the Average Tone variable, which measures the average emotional tone of news reports. A total of 81.620 events were processed using a Python-based Flask application to determine the metrics of ‘alignment,’ ‘overlap,’ and ‘collective convergence potential.’ The analysis revealed that the OTS countries developed a relatively harmonious, constructive, and balanced discourse towards Israel in the pre-crisis period. However, after the crisis, they tended to take a cautious distance and adopt a more balanced stance in their discourse and attitudes.