Reassessment of Turkish Foreign Policy

Turkey's Changing Role in the Middle East

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Near East, Near Orient, grade: 1,3, University of Cologne (Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität zu Köln), course: Internationale Politik, language: English, abstract: During the recent years Turkey has put immense efforts in healing relations with its neighbors, establishing closer ties regarding various interest areas, be it economic, cultural or political issues and acting as a facilitator in its close environment. Interestingly, this kind of approach was increasingly voiced at various international occasions since the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalk?nma Partisi-AKP) came to power in 2002. However, once one looks back in history, Turkey during the 1900s conducted a very different foreign policy strategy and viewed its close neighbors with suspicion and mistrust. This study argues that there has been a reassessment in Turkish foreign policy which has helped Turkey to acquire a new role in the Middle Eastern region. In this regard, this research aims to analyze whether there has been a changeover in Turkish Foreign policy and if so, what were the consequences regarding Turkey's relations with its neighbors. Along with that purpose, this paper will elaborate on the factors which have shaped Turkish foreign policy, primarily on economic aspirations. Furthermore, the goal of this research is to focus particularly on Turkey's relations towards its Middle Eastern neighbors. In this context this study provides an overview about the different phases Turkish foreign policy has undergone and examines Turkey's changing role in the Middle East. Consequently, this research will help to understand fully Turkey's recent involvement regarding the Arab uprisings and increasing commitment to the Middle East. This study is relevant in order to follow up Turkey's increasing new role in the international arena. Nowadays, Turkey fills the news and headlines either in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and even in Africa . In order to understand recent discussions about Turkey one has to look behind Turkish foreign policy and in this sense, this paper provides a certain insight about former and current foreign policy goals of Turkey. Thus, to be able to see an overall picture, especially regarding the developments tied with the Arab spring, it is relevant to enlighten Turkey's role in her surrounding regions, particularly in the Middle East.

Tu?ba Akyaz? was born in Germany and grew up in Remscheid. She graduated with a degree in Social Sciences from the University of Cologne in 2012. During her studies she has focused on economics, international politics and empirical research. As a young Fulbright Diversity-Scholar she has visited the University of Kentucky in the States and absolved one year at the Sabanci University as an exchange student in Istanbul, Turkey. She has worked as a consultant in various industries in Germany. Currently she is product manager at a telecommunication company in Switzerland.