Turkey's Capacity in Turning into a Role Model for New Arab Governments; A ConstructivistApproach

As one of the major actors in the Middle East since the rise of the Justice and Development Party to power, Turkey has pursued new trends in its foreign policy. This change in practice that can be explained within the constructivist framework has managed to present Turkey’s moderate Islamic model as a pattern able to compete with other existing Islamic political models in the region. With the new uprisings in the Arab countries of the Middle East and rivalry for acquiring power among various groups in the countries, many debates have taken place concerning the pursuit of a particular model in the new governments. In the meantime, considering its soft and hard capacities, highlighting the religious fabric (Shafei Sunni), cultural tolerance with the minorities at home, strategic coordination with the West, and praising the glory of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey has tried to take precedence over the existing Islamic models in the region (Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt), inviting the new Arab governments and even the revolutionary movements to the rule of moderate Muslims within the Justice and Development Party framework.