Turkey’s Neighboring Policy

Abstract

This thesis examines Turkey's foreign policy under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its leader, President Erdogan, focusing on the country's involvement in Syria and Libya in the contexts of the concepts of Strategic Depth and Zero problems with neighbors' policy. The objective is to assess the factors that led to Turkey's marginalization in these conflict-ridden regions, as well as the implications of this for Turkey's regional and global standing. The thesis argues that Erdogan's autocratic style, ideological disposition, and opportunistic calculations have undermined Turkey's credibility, legitimacy, and effectiveness as a regional power broker and have fueled instability and insecurity in Syria and Libya. Drawing on a range of primary and secondary sources, the thesis examines the historical context, the domestic and international drivers, and the outcomes of Turkey's engagement in Syria and Libya. In doing so, the thesis attempts to answer the following research questions—How did Turkey, under Erdogan and AKP, adopt and implement the Zero Neighborhood Problems Policy in its status-seeking approach? Can Turkey maintain a Zero-problems and a soft-power approach? The findings suggest that Turkey's intervention in these countries was driven by strategic and ideological goals, including the desire to contain Kurdish separatism, challenge the Assad regime, boost Turkey's economic and political influence, and project an image of a supremacist Turkish leadership.