Prospects for Economic Integration in Levant/ Levant'ta Ekonomik Butunlesme Beklentileri

For many decades domestic political instability, anti-globalization economic ideologies and geopolitical turmoil prevented the Levant countries from developing closer economic relations. In an unexpected turn of events the AKP government in Turkey initiated proactive diplomacy aimed at the promotion of closer economic ties with Levant countries and these efforts led to a significant increase in trade and investment between the Levant countries between 2002-2010. This progress came to an end with the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. These uprisings evolved into a violent sectarian war in Syria and caused considerable damage to Turkey's economic and diplomatic relations with Syria and Egypt. The level of sectarian violence has declined significantly in Syria and there is some potential that a political solution can be implemented. This outcome will have a positive effect on the region's prospects for restarting the economic cooperation that was suspended in 2011. The short-term prospects for a multi-lateral economic agreement are not high but an expansion of bilateral economic relations is more likely among the countries that enjoy more political and economic stability.Keywords: Levant, Syria, Turkey, Economic Cooperation, Trade, and Civil WarUzun yillardan bu yana devam eden ic siyasi istikrarsizliklar, kuresellesme karsiti ideolojiler ve jeopolitik calkantilar Levant ulkelerinin yakin ekonomik iliskiler gelistirmelerinin onune gecmistir. Turkiye'de AK Parti hukumetlerinin iktidara gelisiyle birlikte Levant ulkeleriyle yakin ekonomik baglari tesvik eden proaktif bir diplomasi baslatilmis ve bu cabalarin neticesinde 2002-2010 doneminde Levant ulkeleri arasinda ticaret ve yatirim onemli olcude artmistir. Bolgedeki ayaklanmalar Suriye'de yasanan agir mezhepsel catismayla evrilmis ve Turkiye'nin Suriye ve Misir'la olan ekonomik ve siyasi iliskilerinde agir bir zarara yol acmistir. Mezhepsel catismanin boyutlari Suriye'de onemli olcude azalmasi siyasi bir cozumun uygulanabilmesi yonunde bir ihtimali dogurmustur. Bu yonde bir gelisme, bolgede 2011 yilinda askiya alinan ekonomik isbirliginin yeniden baslatilmasi ihtimaline onemli bir katki saglayacaktir. Taraflar arasinda kisa vadede cok tarafli anlasma ihtimalleri cok fazla olmamakla birlikte, siyasi ve ekonomik istikrara sahip ulkeler arasinda ikili ekonomik iliskilerin artmasi olasidir.Anahtar Kelimeler: Levant, Suriye, Turkiye, Ekonomik Isbirligi, Ticaret, Ic Savas.