Obama's and Davutoğlu's Future Visions: Compatible, Contradictory or Phantasm?, Fall 2009

Saturday, December 5, 2009 | Download PDF in English

President Obama’s policies of engagement with other countries and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Davutoğlu’s approach to solving Turkey’s regional issues are both examples of the use of “soft power” to resolve disputes. At first blush, Turkey’s policy goals would appear to be compatible with those of the United States. However, recent developments appear to demonstrate that Turkey is turning away from America and the West. Moreover, while Turkey has made some inroads with respect to a number of regional disputes, it is hard to imagine that soft power alone will achieve “zero problems” with Turkey’s neighbors.

CONTRIBUTOR

Mark Meirowitz

Dr. Mark Meirowitz is a Professor of Humanities at SUNY Maritime College, New York.

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