Turkey’s Policy towards the Middle East and North Africa after the Arab Spring

In this brief, the author evaluates Turkish foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of recent revolutionary events in the region. The brief places Turkey’s reaction to the Arab Spring within the broader trends in international politics as well as the regional geopolitical trends. It analyses the manner in which Turkey approached the Arab Spring and how its policies have affected Ankara’s position, both domestically and in the region.

After reviewing the transformations in Turkey’s relations with several of its neighbors during that process, the brief also critically examines the criticisms raised against Turkey’s policy as well as the opportunities and risks in the region.

The brief argues that after facing political difficulties and suffering economic losses during the transition period, Ankara is now increasingly keen to develop friendly diplomatic and economic relations with new administrations in these countries.

• Primary Source

IPLI: Turkey Policy Brief Series http://www.scribd.com/collections/3462146/IPLI-TEPAV-Turkey-Policy-Brief-Series-2012-English

ESO: Background information: Foreign relations: Policy struggles to keep up with rush of events http://www.europeansources.info/record/foreign-relations-policy-struggles-to-keep-up-with-rush-of-events/

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