TURKEY IN THE SYRIAN CRISIS: THE LIMITS OF A MIDDLE POWER FOREIGN POLICY

Year 2016, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 8 - 25, 01.07.2016

Mehmet Şahin , Buğra Sarı

Abstract

There are two main strands that define the concept of “middle power”. One defines the concept based on material capabilities, and the other one through the foreign policy characteristics. Based on its material capabilities and foreign policy characteristics, Turkey can be defined as a middle power in international relations. The role and effectiveness of middle powers in international system is mainly determined by the quality of the relationship between great powers and the relationship between the middle power and great powers. Since Turkey is a middle power, this determinant factor constitutes one of the main limitations to Turkish Foreign Policy. This article analyzes the consequences of this limitation of Turkey in the Syrian crisis. Syrian crisis is chosen as the case study, because it is one of the most serious current problems in international politics and Turkish Foreign Policy

Keywords

Middle Power, Great Power, Smart Power, Turkish Foreign Policy, Arab Revolutionary Movements, Syrian Crisis

SURİYE KRİZİ’NDE TÜRKİYE: ORTA BÜYÜKLÜKTE GÜCÜN DIŞ POLİTİKA LİMİTLERİ

Abstract

Literatürde “orta büyüklükte güç” kavramını tanımlayan iki temel akım mevcuttur. Bunlardan birincisi kavramı ülkelerin materyal kapasitelerine bakarak tanımlarken; ikincisi devletlerin dış politika karakterlerini önemsemektedir. Türkiye, her iki akıma göre de uluslararası alanda bir orta büyüklükte güçtür. Orta büyüklükte gücün uluslararası sistem içerisindeki rolü ve etkinliği üzerindeki temel faktör büyük güçlerin kendi aralarındaki ilişkisinin doğası ve orta büyüklükteki güç ile büyük güçler arasındaki ilişki tarzıdır. Bu durum orta büyüklükte bir güç olması hasebiyle Türkiye için de geçerlidir. Bu çalışma bahsi geçen belirleyici faktörün Türkiye’nin Suriye Krizi’nde izlediği dış politika üzerindeki sonuçlarını analiz etmektedir. Uluslararası politika ve Türk Dış Politikası bağlamında en temel güncel sorun olması Suriye Krizi’nin çalışma alanı seçilmesinde önemli bir nokta olmuştur

Keywords

Orta Büyüklükte Güç, Büyük Güç, Akıllı Güç, Türk Dış Politikası, Arap Halk Hareketleri, Suriye Krizi

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