Have you read Graham E. Fuller's " The New Turkish Republic: Turkey as a Pivotal State in the Muslim World"? Fuller States that " The politics of Justice and Development Party represents the accumulation of initiatives to strengthen the bonds and penetration on the muslim world."[i] The recent foreign policy of Turkey shows that Fuller's ideas are accurate. As it is known in common that, since the creation of Turkish republic, the relation with the Middle East countries were not as close as today's. In the time near the collapse of Ottoman Empire, people defined their identities as either "Ottoman" or according to their religion " Muslim etc." The Ottoman system did not have a sympaty to an ethnic or civic nationalist idea. Abdülhamid the Second feared from nationalist ideas so much that he exiled some of the supporters of the new rising Turkish nationalism and instead he supported Pan-İslamism  in order to create a union between Muslims against the invaders of the western countries. But of course this was not enough to save the Ottoman Empire because the empire started to crack before the precautions could be taken.

             After the 1st World War and the creation of Turkish Republic, the reformists walked on a different path which was trying to spread the idea of Turkish nationalism in the country. A large Empire had been destroyed and divided, in order to give something to the people to be proud of, was the idea of Turkish nationalist idea. But of course this nationalist idea was not considered as racism but rather a civic nationalism, and this can be seen clear that all the people who carry a Turkish identification card are Turks. The reformers saw the religion as a factor that played part in  the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. So in this stead, Turkey tried to keep its relations with the Middle east countries as low as it can be and tried to have more relation with the Western countries and concentrated on being westernized. Atatürk's sun-language history thesis is a part of this process trying to show that Turkey belongs to the western culture. In the time of the cold war Turkey stood as an ally of U.S against the Soviet Union and the main fact of this reason was the soviet threat in 1946. Also in the time of the Democrat party reforms were activated in religious terms that made the muslim population pleased. But of course Turkey had been standing on the side of the western countries until now. As the conditions change the policies must change as well.

Justice and Development Party: Middle East Policies

            Turkey has a different model now when compared to the past times. The conditions of the western and Middle East countries shows that on the one side stands the U.S and western countries,on the other side stands the Middle East countries and in the middle stands Turkey.

            Justice and Development Party is giving an important attention to the Middle East countries more than any government. Some people may understand this as if Turkey is passing to an Ottoman style. But disagree with them in terms of internal affairs and common rules. Turkey's condition now makes Turkey a country that belongs to neither west nor Middle east but a combination of both. This is an advantage for Turkey. Expert Ömer Taşpınar states that "The stakes for Turkey and the future of the Middle East are high. Home to more than 70 million Muslims, Turkey is the most advanced democracy in the Islamic world. A stable, western-oriented, liberal Turkey on a clear path toward the EU would serve as a growing market for western goods, a contributor to the labor force Europe will desperately need in the coming decades, a democratic example for the rest of the Muslim world, a stabilizing influence on Iraq, and a partner in Afghanistan."[ii]  The recent conditions makes this statement accurate in terms of the big step towards Middle East relations with the " Levant Quartet".

"Levant Quartet": a step Of Turkey's becoming a key between West and Middle East

            The "Levant Quartet" signed between Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in order to reach 1.5 trillion economical growth should not only be taken as an important agreement only in economical concept but also developing a union in Middle East countries. Syrian minister Yaraub Badr stated " This is not just a simple aggreement but a step taken toward a union in middle east"[iii]. In this situation Turkey seems to be the major lead country. Because the Levant Business Forum will be centralized in İstanbul. Free trade will not only be beneficial in terms of economy but also for cultural connection. This project is similar to the NAFTA agreement signed between United States, Mexico and Canada in order to establish free trade between these countries. About " Levant Quartet" president of Turkey Abdullah Gül made a statement " the ones who stay out of the phase with the new conditions of the economy are bound to stay behind developed Nations"[iv]. In terms of economical purposes, NAFTA and Levant Quarted are similar and there is nothing more natural in developing relations with the neighbor countries but Levant Quartet separates from Nafta in terms of cultural and social connection.This relation gives reason to discussion about if Turkey is shifting its policies from Western to Eastern countries, in other words this is understood as if Turkey is turning its back to Western countries. Turkey's having closer relations in terms of both cultural and economical relations should not be understood by the public as if Turkey is turning its back to Western countries. Turkey's getting closer with Middle East countries will also be a benefit for U.S.A. Another thing that must be kept in mind that as an ally of U.S, Turkey's getting closer with Middle East countries, both U.S and Turkey will gain reputation and Turkey will be a bridge between U.S.A and Middle East countries in terms of peace and trust. Turkey's economical growth in Middle East will make Turkey even more important because of the role that Turkey will play between Western countries and Eastern countries. When Turkey develops its economical strategies not only with western countries but also Middle East countries than Turkey will become as a key between west and Middle East. Davutoğlu should also be aware of this situation, he stated that ""The Turkish and Arab world has the world's most important strategic zone, from Kars to Morocco and Mauritania, from Sinop to the southeast part of Sudan to the equator, from the Bosphorus to the Gulf of Aden and the Dardanelles. We want turn this into a zone of economic integration and a grand area of welfare,"[v]

            The reason that Turkey will become a key between the connection of Western countries and Middle East can be seen by the failed policies of United States in terms of invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. When the secret documents of United states were revealed by Wikileaks, Middle East expert Tony Karon emphasized and made a statement about this subject" When United States invaded Iraq, it did not have any history in the region so as Turkey. Documents related to Turkey shows that the U.S Middle East politics failed but Turkey's politics have won. When Turkey rejected the bill on March 1st, it has delievered a message to United States that in cannot reach its objectives in this way and Turkey's legitimacy have won"[vi]. Turkey's claims about and being a symbol of peace and trust is the true way to connect and have beneficial relations with the Middle East and U.S.

            Turkey's being an ally of U.S for 60 years is not likely to change by Turkey's getting closer with its neighbors. This is a benefit for U.S as its ally being a lead country in Middle East. Fuller States that " In time, Turkish made reform, political liberalization, the call's for ending the regional conflict in Middle East,  will be coming from reputable, powerful, independent source. These kind of calls can also accelerate the transformation of long terms benefits of West."[vii]

            As a country which most of its population is Muslim, Turkey is a best example of a Muslim population country which has a democratic and secular system. Even on the policies of Iran, U.S should not take it as a risk. The U.S Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley stated " Turkey is a neighbor of Iran. It does have an economic relation with Iran, and in fact, there are categories where trade between countries and Iran are fully authorized"[viii]. As an ally of U.S Turkey's getting closer with neighbors does not have a risk but a benefit. In these terms the "Levant Quartet" is a good start for future relations and development. This should not be understood as if Turkey is shifting to Ottoman model. Turkey is only trying to have connection and economical, social cultural relation with the Middle East countries that Ottoman Empire had given enormous attention. I believe that, the problems with Israel and somethimes with  U.S are not going to be permanent and these are all going help Turkey raising its reputation among the Middle East countries, and in the last Turkey will be a key country for the relations of Middle East and West.

            However, concerns about Turkey's getting closer with neigbors is rising amongst some people in Turkey. It is being discussed that whether Turkey is passing to an Ottoman model in terms of religion. The concerns should be made clear in people's minds by the politicians right away so that their intentions are best understood by the public. I still believe that if the intentions are not made clear by the politicians, these concerns will be growing as the years pass and relations with Middle East countries develop. This is a path that you can either fall or rise up. In terms of recent relations with the Middle East countries and Levant Quarted, Turkey seems to be in a rise in terms of external affairs. But the politicians should be careful in terms of internal affairs because it can be a cause of an internal chaos.

[i] Fuller. E. Graham. Yükselen Bölgesel Aktör Yeni Türkiye Cumhuriyeti. Timaş Yayınları 2010 İstanbul. p.99

[ii] http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=22209

[iii]http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=mediterranean-quartet-takes-a-step-towards-a-union-says-syrian-minister-2010-12-03 

[iv]http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=mediterranean-quartet-takes-a-step-towards-a-union-says-syrian-minister-2010-12-03 

[v]http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=mediterranean-quartet-takes-a-step-towards-a-union-says-syrian-minister-2010-12-03 

[vi]http://www.turkishculturalcenter.org/ny-luncheons-a-forums/552-time-editor-tony-karon-was-interviewed-at-turkish-cultural-center.html  

[vii] Fuller. E. Graham. Yükselen Bölgesel Aktör Yeni Türkiye Cumhuriyeti. Timaş Yayınları 2010 İstanbul. p136

[viii] http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/110096/united-states-says-turkey-39-s-...