International Journal
Volume 70, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 408-420

The Syrian refugee challenge and Turkeys quest for normative power in the Middle East (Review)

Oktav Ö.Z.* , Çelikaksoy A.
  • a Department of Political Science and International Relations, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Yildiz Technical University, Barbaros Bulvan, Yildiz-Istanbul, 34349, Turkey
  • b Stockholm University Linnaeus Center for Integration Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

This article examines the Syrian refugee challenge as a case study in order to understand the inherent contradictions evident in Turkeys efforts to exert normative power in the Middle East. The article is divided into two sections. The first part examines how Turkey has attempted to transform itself from a country that has in the past been accused by elements in the West of "lacking [the] standards of [a] civilization" into a candidate for full European Union (EU) membership. The second part assesses the three main challenges to Ankaras efforts as they are revealed through its response to the Syrian refugee crisis. © The Author(s) 2015.

Author Keywords

Turkey EU membership Normative power Middle East Syria Refugee crisis

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84938901609&doi=10.1177%2f0020702015584305&partnerID=40&md5=48efdcc585298c5ca7ea2a7a64533e93
DOI: 10.1177/0020702015584305
ISSN: 00207020
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English