Adjustment of the secular Islamist role model Turkey to the Arab Spring the relationship between the Arab uprisings and Turkey in the Turkish and world press

OpenAlex English

At the centenary of the Ottoman (Turkish) withdrawal from the Middle East, Turkey is passing through a period when great things are again expected of it as a role model for the transformation process in the Middle East. It is clear from the statements of politicians, as well as the media, that Turkey has eagerly embraced this role, responding to expectations widely reported in both the international and national media that Turkey's success holds lessons for the broader region. There is no doubt that this view allows us to make assessments about the likely trajectory of the ‘Arab Spring’, the expression coined by international Western media. In the present article, some of the historical social conditions and institutions that have played key roles in Turkey's consolidation of democracy will be explored as a way of helping us better understand the recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa.