EXTERNAL AND DOMESTIC CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR TURKEY AS A REGIONAL POWER AND THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

Turkey, which has a democratic and secular political system with a predominantly Muslim population and an EU membership prospect, had an increasing influence in its region which increased its soft power. However, after the start of Arab uprisings, uncertainty in the Middle East and stall of the negotiations with the EU challenged Turkey’s soft power. This article discusses challenges and prospects facing Turkey’s regional power, especially since 2011. It firstly analyses the role of soft power in Turkish foreign policy and evaluates the series of soft power instruments. Secondly, it discusses the external factors challenging Turkey’s regional power, particularly the role of Arab uprisings, particularly Syrian crisis and domestic challenges that negatively influence Turkey’s regional power, particularly stagnation in the reform process, polarisation of the society, freedom of media and the rise of terrorism. Lastly the role of EU in Turkey’s soft power in spite of its decreasing transformative power over Turkey in recent years will be evaluated.