February 2013
Learning From the 'Arab Spring': Turkish Foreign Policy in Flux
As Turkey ascends to 'second tier BRIC' status, new foreign policy ambitions have emerged. The author argues that these ambitions have met reality checks and have been complicated by the Arab uprisings. Turkey has initially opposed regime change, especially from foreign intervention, yet has had to change its opinion in the face of Western action. Turkey's silence on Bahrain and support for the Syrian opposition has allowed the country to be viewed as a partisan Sunni actor. However Turkey has begun to reorientate itself to cope with the Arab Spring. For example to legitimize its support for democracy and human rights, the AKP government has relaunched talks with the nation's Kurdish population.
© 2013 Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
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Author:
Ioannis N Grigoriandis
Series:
Volume:
2013
Issue:
32
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