Turkey's policy towards Syrian Turkmen after the Arab Spring

This study aims to find answers to the questions "when does Turkey bring Syrian Turkmen to the forefront in foreign policy, and when does it push them into the background?" with based on the concepts of "kin state" and "kin minority" in three periods: The period of 2000-2010 before the Arab Spring, the beginning period of the Arab Spring in 2011-2015 and the period of 2016-2020 after the Arab Spring. For this purpose, firstly, by creating a conceptual and theoretical analysis framework, four factors affecting kin state policies were determined. The changes in Turkey's policy towards Syrian Turkmen were evaluated based on these four determined factors. In addition, it was suggested to analyze this evaluation within the framework of both realism and constructivist approach. In this framework, a model was created. With the help of this model, it was revealed that some states demonstrate an instrumental approach to gain power and security for their kin minorities under the influence of these factors, while some states show an emotional approach for such reasons as common ethnic identity, history and ideology. While making this analysis, the position of Syrian Turkmen in Syria and their importance in Turkey-Syria relations were explained. This study generally consists of four parts. In the first part, conceptual and theoretical framework is explained. In the second part, Turkmen history in Syria between 2000-2010; the political, cultural, military and economic situation of Syrian Turkmen in the last period of Hafez Assad and Bashar Assad period; the change in Turkish foreign policy after the AK Party came to power and the impact of this change on Turkey's relationship with the Syrian Turkmen were analyzed. In the third part, the Arab Spring and Syrian civil war between 2011-2015, the impact of DAESH and PYD/YPG in the Syrian civil war, the positions of the Syrian Turkmen in the political and military field and Turkey's relationship with the Syrian Turkmen throughout the process were examined. In the fourth part, the situation of DAESH and PYD/YPG terrorist organizations that gained strength in the region with the Syrian civil war between 2016-2020, Syrian Turkmen's expectations from Turkey, Turkey's relationship with the Syrian Turkmen, the participation of Syrian Turkmen in military operations by Turkey, and Turkish foreign policy with the axis of the USA, Russia and Iran, which manifest itself in Syria as international and regional factors were analyzed. In conclusion, it was revealed that, before and after 2011, Turkey's shared ethnic ties and interests with the Syrian Turkmen paved the way for Turkey to assume the role of a kin state; however, it assigned this role under certain conditions. An overall assessment, which indicates under what conditions Turkey carries the Syrian Turkmen into its foreign policy, what factors affect this policy and for what purposes and by what means Turkey assumed the role of a kin state, was carried out.