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Copyright of Journal of Communication Theory & Research / Iletisim Kuram ve Arastirma Dergisi is the property of Gazi University, Faculty of Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main purpose of this study is to demonstrate the realist foreign policy of Iran. Unlike conventional wisdom, the article aims to show that Shiite identity is not the primary concern of Iranian foreign policy towards the Middle East. The Shiite identity is only instrumentalized against its rivals. The primary concern is to balance the regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel as well as the USA by allying with Russia. The argument that Iran pursues a realist foreign policy instead of the Shiite identity, will be supported by the case of the Syrian policy of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The civil commotion, which started with Muhammed Bouazizi's setting himself on fire in Tunisia, seems not to have remained limited with Tunisia but to have exercised control over the Arab Middle East as well. As a matter of fact, the uprisings in the Arab countries are the obvious proof of this situation. It seems that the Middle East has been going through a new political turbulence with these events emerging in Tunisia. However, the course of the current events and their consequences still remain uncertain. In that case, the political and economic transition, which Turkey has gone through, is important for the future and the stability of the Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Israel, who got the feeling of loneliness in the Middle East with the disruption of relations with Turkey in the recent years, has been in search of new allies. With the aim of gaining new allies, Israel's interest in the Balkans has increased. In this context, Israel has been trying to develop her relations with the Balkan states such as Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro, Macedonia and Crotia in terms of military, intelligence, politics and economy. In addition to this, recently Israel has also got closer to the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus to a great extent. However, despite all these efforts, it seems that Israel will not be able to avoid her feeling of "strategic loneliness". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing international and regional balances are the main reasons why Turkey is becoming more influential in the Middle East and Africa. But these changes cannot be considered as the sole motives behind Turkey's growing influence. The New Bourgeoisie/Anatolian Tigers who emerged in the early 1980's and began to influence the Turkish internal politics within the last 30 years, are now influencing the foreign policies as well. Because of this newly- emerged economic class, economic issues became one of the major topics of Turkish Foreign Politics in the last years, along with security and defense issues. This class is playing an influential role in the shaping of Turkey's Middle Eastern and African policies and appears as a determining fact to develop a more consistent foreign policy in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]