Since the new millenium, Turkish foreign policy has gone through a major change in the last ten years, from a security focused, coercive and unilateral approach to one that seeks diplomatic, multilateral solutions to foreign policy problems (Davutoğlu, 2004; see also Canan, 2009; Lazarou, 2006; Lesser, 2005; Kirişci, 2004; 2006; Terzi, 2009). It started to be perceived as a ‘soft power’ (Oğuzlu, 2007) or a ‘benign power’ (Öniş, 2003). This paper argues that, Turkey’s peaceful foreign policy has reached to its limits, with the most contemporary challenge emanating from Arab Spring. This is most visible in Turkey’s relations with Syria, where its peaceful foreign policy did not pay off. Therefore, this paper analyses the relations with Turkey and Syria, in light of the Arab appraisals.
