Türkiye’s Middle East Engagement: Analyzing the “Protector of the Oppressed” Role Conception

This article focuses on the impact of the Arab uprisings on Turkish foreign policy toward the Middle East. It examines Türkiye’s assumption of the “protector of the oppressed” role and how this has affected the country’s engagement with the regimes and peoples of the region. Employing content analysis, the article identifies an increasing reference to the “protector of the oppressed” role conception in the post-2010 period. We argue that the “protector” role has been present in Turkish foreign policy since the 1980s, especially towards the Turkic states; however, after the Arab uprisings, its content and scope transformed into the “protector of the oppressed” role. To clarify and illustrate our findings, we look at Türkiye’s management of the mass migration from Syria. First, we review the chronology of events in the region and Türkiye’s stance. Second, by utilizing computer-assisted content analysis of the Turkish leaders’ speeches, we explain how the “protector of the oppressed” role affected Türkiye’s approach to the issue of migration. Finally, while synthesizing our findings, we overview recent developments in Turkish foreign policy and discuss the implications of the “protector of the oppressed” role for the potential future of Türkiye’s engagement with the Middle East.