Erdogan’s Middle Eastern Victory Lap
BY STEVEN A. COOK, Foreign Affairs

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s warm reception following his tour of Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya highlights the growing influence of Turkey in the Middle East following the Arab Spring. With Europe becoming less receptive to Turkey, Erdogan has increasingly looked to Turkey’s Middle Eastern neighbors. Many in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya see Turkey as a positive role model, as it has a growing economy and its ruling party has demonstrated how a religious party can indeed advance liberal principles without turning to extremism.