ABSTRACT
The affirmation of “democracy” is almost universal at this point, but the meaning of that affirmation remains very much in doubt. That doubt is most acute in the Middle East and North Africa, because the promotion of democracy has become linked to the practice of controversial geopolitics in the region. The debate surrounding democracy centers on an assessment of the American role and methods, especially the distinction between its professed intentions and actual behavior. Turkey is to some extent caught in the middle, engaged in its own process of democratizing reform, as well as being an ally of the United States while at the same time seeking to move closer to Europe and eventually to be accepted as a member of the European Union. For these reasons and others, the promises and concerns provoked by the unveiling of the Greater Middle East Initiative and North Africa Project (GMI) make it a natural focus for discussion, heated controversy, and evaluation.
