Bilgi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Öz

The peace and stability environment in the Middle East lasted for
four centuries under the rule of Ottoman Empire faded away with the World
War I, and inside the intense power struggle of big states, the Middle East
transformed into a weak, instable and underdeveloped region. The movement
started in the region at the end of the cold war entered into a new phase with
the waves of civil uprisings, spreading and making it inevitable to reshape the
region. Having abandoned the policy of keeping the region at arm’s length
adopted until 1980s and started to improve its relations with the region, Turkey
has become an active player with its proactive and multi-faced foreign
policy pursued particularly in recent years. It is a historic responsibility of
Turkey to promote the transformation process started in the Middle East as
well as an opportunity to strengthen its position within the global power of
balance. Therefore, it is essential that the foreign policy of Turkey be implemented
within the framework of comprehensive, long-running and balanced
strategies that would promote development and welfare in the region as well
as peace and stability, and help rebuild both the regional and the global balances
over more fair and humanitarian values.