The ongoing turmoil in Syria has led to a massive refugee problem for a number of its neighbors. The most seriously affected is Turkey, and there is a robust discussion of creating some sort of enclave for the refugees in Turkey. The impulse for the enclave is humanitarian, but there are a number of possible repercussions to such a move. The most serious issue is whether that enclave would serve as a base for a Syrian government-in-exile. That move would place Turkey squarely in the middle of the contest between the opponents of Syria (basically the US, Europe, and Israel) and the supporters of Syria (Russia and Iran). The second concern is whether that enclave might serve as a base for disaffected Kurds, who have long fought for autonomy within Turkey. This is a difficult decision for the Turks.
Foreign Policy has an interesting post on the Republican Party platform on foreign policy issues. Again, most candidates do not believe that the platform commits them to any particular course of action. But it is an interesting perspective on the role of the United States in world affairs.
A great post by Stephen Walt on what every “foreign policy wonk should study.”
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