The Turkish model and democratization in the Middle East

RECENTLY THE RELEVANCY OF THE Turkish experience in democratization to the process of political reform in the Arab world has become a focus of debate within the context of a renewed interest in the subject in general. While Turkey is promoted as a model for Islamic countries by some, others have argued that Turkey's experience is irrelevant to the issues of democratization in the Middle East. This article probes the question of whether Turkey has the assets, the will and the credibility to emerge as a soft power in the Middle East.