Role and conflict in Turkish foreign policy: An analysis of the Middle East policy under JDP

Coming to power in 2002, the JDP government represents one of the most significant breaking points for Turkish foreign policy in the post Cold War period. Following a Western oriented foreign policy since its foundation, Turkey started to be viewed at the center position by JDP's decision makers. With this transformation which has distinct repercussions on Turkish foreign policy, Turkey, as getting far from her traditional attitude, has followed more active policies especially in the Middle East. In this thesis, the transformation in Turkey's policies in the Middle East during JDP government is going to be evaluated within the framework of role theory with a constructivist approach. For this, the relationship between the roles undertaken in the Middle East in Turkish foreign policy and Turkey's foreign policy identity is going to be examined. After having analyzed the conceptual framework of the roles, it is going to be observed how Turkey has performed the roles which she has undertaken in the Middle East and going to be revealed the conflicting factors during this process.