Török külpolitika új alapokon. A szíriai konfliktus kialakulása és a török külpolitika paradigmaváltása, 2011–2012
Turkish Foreign Policy on New Foundations: The Emergence of the Syrian Conflict and the Paradigm Shift in Turkish Foreign Policy, 2011–2012

Summary/Abstract: As the Syrian conflict has been dominating the political landscape of the Middle East for nine years, many analyses revolve around the recent developments of the conflict and how the crisis should be resolved. However, the question of how the relations between Turkey and Syria deteriorated remained relatively under-researched. Consequently, this paper tries to scrutinize this critical transformation process that took place in 2011. As this year lifted the crisis to a regional level, it also signifies a paradigm shift in Turkish foreign policy; however, only later developments shed light on the decisive nature of the events in 2011. As a reaction to the mass demonstrations in Syria, Turkey utilized a human rights discourse to force the Syrian leadership to make concessions. This strategy was part of the proactive policy setting that Ankara pursued to avoid isolation (as in the case of Libya beforehand) and gain the most prominent position in the conduct of an expected political transformation in Syria. Due to structural factors in parallel with the agencies (personality of leaders, Erdoğan and Assad) involved in the negotiation process, Ankara’s mediation attempt between the rebels and the leadership has failed. The analysis also considers the regional and global interests to underline the main argument that Turkey’s efforts to convince the Syrian leadership of changes became counterproductive. It is mainly due to the direct investment in the outcome of the process, as Ankara intended to use the mediation for undermining the Syrian leadership and gaining political influence in its immediate neighbourhood.

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