Rethink Institute

Speakers: Ihsan Dagi - Professor of International Relations, Middle East Technical University Michael Werz - Senior Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Fevzi Bilgin -Executive Director, ReThink Institute September 24, 2013-Washington DC Until a few years ago, Turkish foreign policy was mostly informed by the priorities of the Western alliance. Politically and ideologically, Turkey considered itself part of Europe and joined various European/Western arrangements, ranging from military cooperation (NATO) to customs union. This alignment has come into question during the last decade, thanks to the mental shift and various assertive moves by the AKP government, which seemingly challenged the perception of Turkey as located between the East and the West, but always facing the West. The AKP government's strategy of "zero problem with neighbors" initially helped foster a new broadminded, confident, and ambitious Turkish foreign policy, especially in the Middle East, from which it was previously absent. This