Analyzing Turkey’s Middle East Policy after the Arab Spring (original) (raw)

Turkey's Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East

This study, considering the points stated above, is an attempt to examine the impacts of Ankara’s Middle East policy from the Turkish perspective; to evaluate the internal and external dynamics of the relations with Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Syria and, in this context, with the US, Russia and Iran, respectively, and to draw a conclusion on how Ankara should take action.

CHANGING DYNAMICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER THE ARAB AWAKENING; THE POSITION OF TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY

The transformation and power struggle in the Middle East after the Arab Spring and actual withdrawal of the USA in December 2011 from Iraq and therefore from the Middle East caused serious changes in the dynamics and balances of the region. The aim of this paper is to investigate evolving foreign policy strategies, activities of both regional and global actors on Middle East from the perspective of Turkey. The changes in the Middle East policy of Turkey after such changes and the effects of regional and systemic actors on such changes were studied comparatively with the foreign policies of Iran and Saudi Arabia. The national powers of Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the effective power centers in the region, were measured and compared to each other. Within this context, it was attempted to reveal the roles that these countries assumed in the changes in the region based on their powers from the perspective of Turkey. Furthermore, the critiques of relations of Turkey with the region countries and the foreign policy approaches it abortively produced against the regional changes were assessed within the new atmosphere developing in the Middle East.

Turkey's Erratic Policy in the Middle East

European Journal of Transformation Studies, 2019

In a neorealist approach to the subject, this paper argues that decreases within the harmony of structural, institutional and individual levels within the state (in our case, Turkey), will eventually lead to a less and less successful foreign policy. The article explores Turkey’s dyadic foreign relations primarily with Syria before and after the Arab spring, concentrating on the period of 2011 to 2017 (for comparative reasons, we have included Turkey-USA, Turkey-Saudi Arabia and Turkey-Iran relations within the research as well). It shows the slow degradation and increased lack of success within Turkey’s foreign policy during the ongoing decade.

Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East After the Arab Spring

The social and political earthquake that has shaken the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at the end of the 2010 has completely changed the political landscape of the region. In terms of both domestic politics and geopolitics. Among the countries of the Middle East, Turkey it has been one of the most affected by the so-called Arab Spring, due to the important influence that it had acquired after the emergence of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) as the ruling party of Turkey. The paper focuses on Turkish foreign policy and on how the Arab Spring has changed it. In the introduction an account will be given to describe what happened in the region from the 2010 until today. Then, in the first part of the analysis it will be addressed the historical position of Turkey in the region and the limits of its Middle Eastern politics due to various structural factors (USSR, PKK and domestic political instability), at least until the 2000s. After that, it will be described Turkish foreign policy right before the uprisings. The second part will be the bulk of the analysis, in which it will be described the major changes in the stance of Turkey in the MENA, after the Arab Spring. At the end we will see that through the lens of a “short run” analysis the position of Turkey in the Middle East seems to be now compromised. While with a “long term” perspective, given the instability of the new polities emerged after the uprisings, the foreign policy adopted by AKP to face the Arab Spring could turn out to be good for Turkish position in the MENA.

Turkey’s Middle East Policy Examined within the framework of Foreign Policy Analysis after the

2019

How is Turkey's Middle East Policy examined within the framework of foreign policy analysis after the 2000 ? The Justice and Development Party government, which came to power in the 2002 general elections, represents one of the important breakpoints in the post-Cold War period for Turkish Foreign Policy. Since the establishment of a Western-oriented foreign policy followed by Turkey, the Turkish foreign policy together with the AKP government and Turkey have experienced significant transformations, especially away from the traditional attitude has pursued a more active policy in the Middle East. This research examines that Turkey's policies in the Middle East in the period of the AKP government within the framework of the role theory with a constructive approach. To this end, Turkish foreign policy aimed at the Middle East the relationship between the roles undertaken and Turkey's foreign policy identity will be examined. In this article, among the important foreign policy principles of Turkey, the multilateral diplomacy, the ‘zero problem’ with neighboring countries, the ‘model’ from ‘country to’ Central ' country, soft power, economic-oriented foreign policy and security-freedom balance policies will be discussed. This research will also examine the foreign policy of the AKP in the period of 2003-2009 and Ahmet Davutoglu's foreign policy in 2009-2013, which is an important turning point in the AKP's foreign policy. This research will examine the geo-political, economic, and strategic importance of Turkey particularly for the Middle East which shares a long common history with Turkey. Keywords: Turkish Foreign Policy, Middle East, Justice and Development Party, Zero Problem Policy, Soft Power, Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Turkey's Changing Middle East Policy

2010

This article aims to discuss recent developments in Turkey’s Middle East policy. After a brief historical background of Turkey’s relations with the region, it focuses on understanding the change in terms of both the level and nature of involvement in the region. Within that context, the article looks at systemic/structural as well as ideational and domestic politics explanations. Then the current policy is discussed through its three elements: improvement of relations with neighbors, characterized as “zero problems with neighbors policy”; eagerness to play third party roles in regional conflicts; attempts to increase economic interdependence with the region. Through the discussion of these cases the article attempts to discuss the possibilities and limitations of Turkey’s new engagement.

The Arab Spring Effect on Turkey's Role, Decision-making and Foreign Policy

This book analyses Turkey’s role in the Arab world and investigates the effects of the Arab Spring on Turkish foreign policy, decision-making and its role. Particular attention is focused on widespread terms such as strategic depth, neo-Ottomans and the Turkish Model. It also provides incisive discussions of the key tenets of the Turkish official responses to Arab revolts and narrates the advantages and challenges that come to forge any potential regional role for Turkey.