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The rapid improvement of political, economic and cultural relations between Turkey and Russia during the 2000s reinforced the image that the two countries have been developing a strategic partnership with each other. However, in the light of the widening discord between Ankara and Moscow regarding the Syrian civil war and NATO missile defense issue since 2010, it has become increasingly difficult to define the Turkish- Russian relations as a strategic partnership. This article aims to explore the influence of these two current developments on the future of the Turkish-Russian relations and analyze the two countries' respective interest and threat perceptions with regard to the Syrian crisis and NATO missile defense issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a conceptual-theoretical as well as political perspective, this essay examines the interrelationships between the identity and foreign policy dimensions of Turkey's Kurdish question and makes policy recommendations. Recent domestic and regional developments present both opportunities and great risks for Turkey's social, political and territorial cohesion, peace and stability. In order to utilize the opportunities, Turkey needs to simultaneously achieve two goals. Domestically, it needs to successfully continue its present peace process and achieve genuine democratization. This process should culminate in a state of affairs whereby the complex social and political questions underlying the Kurdish question can be processed through the mechanisms of normal democratic politics and with the participation of legitimate Kurdish political actors. In foreign policy, Turkey should consolidate its improved relations with regional Kurds based on interdependence and its redline should be the emergence of a hostile Kurdish statehood in the region, not Kurdish self-rule per se. This, however, should be done without alienating Arabs by defending any particular status for Iraqi or Syrian Kurds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global power shifts to east, the rise of new regional powers is creating a new poly-centric political and economic world. In this context, several emerging powers or the so-called global swing states' decisions will determine the axis of the world. This is particularly the case for Turkey's standing at the global fault line of the Middle East. In this light, this paper's main objective is to assess Turkish-American overlapping/contending visions on several regional hot spots - Palestine Issue, Iran, Iraq, and Syria - and it concludes that their long-term interests in the region will be aligned in the case that Turkey is not isolated from transatlantic dialogue and economic mechanisms such as TTIP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkish Iraqi relations have deteriorated in 2012. The relations which is its worst shape in post Saddam Hussein era have been affected by several factors. It can be assumed that most important factors that affect two countries' relations are the reflection of changing political environment in Iraq and the developments in Syria. In this context, it will be over optimistic approach if one assumes that this relation would improve in 2013. Especially, the rising political tension before the general elections which will be hold in 2014 and energy issue can cause more escalation in the relations between Turkey and Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the relations between Turkey and Syria are defined by the turning points such as; the Hatay issue, the cold war period, the Adana Agreement signed in 1998, Hafez Assad's death in 2000 and Bashar Assad's taking over the power, the 2003 Invasion of Iraq by the U.S., and the ongoing civil commotions taking place in Syria since March. The transboundary waters have occupied an important place in the Turkey-Syria relations, from past to present. The water resources, to which Turkey and Syria are riparians, are directly related to the changing balances in the Middle East as well as in the Turkey-Syria relations, and they take form accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so called Arab Spring brings a tense debate on democratization of the region into the agenda. The December-January Popular Demonstrations in Tunisia have had demonstration effect on the regional countries from Morocco to Yemen. The outcome of the uprisings in the countries are varying up to the many determinants, the rule of Gaddafi was overthrown by military means. The new are in the Libya in broad sense and the hardly debatable death of Gaddafi in narrow sense set the initial questions. The Libyan had lost their chance to judge the old regime under the name of Gaddafi by respecting rule of law that experienced in Nurnberg Trials by Germans or the International Criminal Court for Slobodan Milosević. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze pragmatic nature of Syrian foreign policy during the rule of Bashar al-Assad and its impact on Turkish-Syrian relations. International isolation with which Syria faced after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 forced Bashar's administration to develop close relations with Turkey to diversify Syria's regional alliances. However, with the advent of the Arab Spring in Syria in mid-March 2011, Bashar began to shift his alliance with Turkey when Turkish PM Erdoğan called for him to give up power, backed opposition groups and imposed sanctions on Syria. This article argues that while Bashar al-Assad has different cards in his hands, such as Russia, China, Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas; Turkey cannot influence Syria. Thus, regime change in Damascus will continue to be a matter of uncertainty and Bashar will play all of his cards until losing the last one to protect the Baathist regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]