Evaluation of theoritical and practial coherence of strategic depth approach in turkish foreign policy in the context of Syria

Turkish Foreign Policy has been experiencing a changing process since 2002. There is Strategic Depth approach underlying at the core of this changing process. The approach re-interprets Turkey's historical and geographical depth in accordance with the foreign policy objectives it defines. In this respect, Strategic Depth claims to removal of the lack of strategic theory in Turkish Foreign Policy. Hence this study seeks to determine the theoretical place of Strategic Depth approach. According to the features which should exist in a theory, Strategic Depth approach is evaluated as a micro theory. At the same time, Strategic Depth approach contains several concepts in its content such as power equation, strategic theory and new foreign policy principles. Turkey's Syria policies have been a successful area in the context of transferring these concepts to practice. Thus, the concepts in content of Strategic Depth approach could be transferred largely to practice in the framework of Syria policies.Keywords: Strategic Depth, Turkish Foreign Policy, Turkish- Syrian Relations, Theory, Strategy.