ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a theoretical argument that accounts for why leaders often believe that the spread of their ideological principles to other countries is likely to benefit their interests. It explains how Turkey's policies in response to the Arab Spring largely support this analysis, thereby demonstrating the frequent centrality of ideologies to states' most important international decisions. As the Arab Spring and the consequent ideological polarization of the Middle East and North Africa progressed, the security benefits created by regime promotion intensified to the point where they became more powerful for Turkish leaders than countervailing incentives. The chapter argues that Turkey's increasing authoritarianism at home after 2012 helps explain the shift away from democracy promotion. Supporting democracy movements, in contrast, offered the opportunity of helping groups in other countries come to power that were highly sympathetic to Turkey while simultaneously tightening Turkey's ties with established liberal allies led by the United States.
