IDENTITY & TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

The relationship with the Middle East has been one of the key dimensions of Turkish foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. During the past two decades, Ankara aimed to become an active player in the regional affairs of the Middle East. Nevertheless, the formulation of policies towards this region has been complicated with the rise of identity politics in the country. This article will examine the relationship between different conceptions of Turkish identity and the variation in Turkish attitudes towards the Middle East.