Abstract

Today Turkey is more and more engulfed in the Middle Eastern quagmire. In a region in turmoil it is no longer considered to be a facilitator in regional crises as well a stabilizing player. The security vacuum produced by the conflict in Syria and, more recently, by the establishment of the self-proclaimed Caliphate by the Islamic State have had a destabilizing impact on Turkey, challenging both its internal security and its regional ambitions and role. At this stage, Ankara seems to lack the constructive vision for the region it had when the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002.

Valeria Talbot is Senior Researcher and Head of the Mediterranean and Middle East Program

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