A Discussion on Turkey

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In The Media

A Discussion on Turkey

The Arab Spring has presented problems for Ankara’s foreign policy of zero problems with its neighbors. The outcome of the popular uprisings in neighboring Syria will ultimately have a significant impact on this policy and on the projection of Turkish power in the region.

By Henri J. Barkey

Published on May 12, 2011

Source: Charlie Rose Show

While the past decade has seen significant political and economic success for Turkey, the popular uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, known collectively as the Arab Spring, have presented problems for Ankara, explained Henri Barkey on the Charlie Rose Show. “Turkey’s zero problems policy with its neighbors has become a policy of zero problems with Arab regimes,” Barkey explained. This is particularly the case in Syria, where Ankara worked hard to improve relations with the increasingly unpopular Assad regime. Unlike in Egypt or Tunisia, Barkey warned that the potential for a bloodbath in Syria is significant and with an open border between Turkey and Syria, the possibility of thousands of Syrians fleeing to Turkey is very high. “Prime Minister Erdogan and President Obama are both working to promote a soft transition” in Syria, in order to mitigate violence and instability, Barkey concluded.

About the Author

Henri J. Barkey

Former Visiting Scholar, Middle East Program

Barkey served as a member of the U.S. State Department Policy Planning Staff, working primarily on issues related to the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean, and intelligence from 1998 to 2000.

Recent Work

Article
Winners and Losers in Turkey’s Election
- Henri J. Barkey
Article
The Road to Turkey’s June Elections: Crises, Strategies, and Outcomes
- Henri J. Barkey

Political Reform Middle East Türkiye Syria Levant

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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