Vom Freund Zum Feind: Die Syrien-Politik Der Türkei Im Kontext Des Bürgerkrieges In Syrien
From Friend To Foe: Turkey’s Syria Policy In The Context Of Civil War In Syria

Summary/Abstract: Syria played a key role in the “strategic depth” foreign policy pursued by the Turkish AKP government and was considered a model example of “zero problem policy” with the neighboring states. The civil war in Syria, however, shattered not only the “zero problem policy” and turned the “old friend” to the “new foe”: It above all affected strategic calculations and the Turkish claim to become regional and global leader. Moreover, the Syrian civil war has both economic as well as domestic implications concerning Turkey’s unsolved Kurdish conflict and the PKK question, thus increasing the already existing domestic polarization. Finally the civil war influences the power structure in the region and the relations to the neighboring states, above all to Iran, Russia and Iraq. The AKP government so far responded flexibly to the challenges of adjustment with a policy mix of pragmatism and commitment. Nevertheless, its influence is limited, requiring a stronger cooperation with the regional allies, the USA and the EU.

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