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When the Arab Spring broke out in December 2010, Turkey was considered a neutral soft power that could help stabilize the turbulent Middle East by being a positive political and economic model. It was, after all, a predominantly Muslim country with a democratic system of government, despite past interruptions to the democratic process.
It was also a country with a vibrant economy, growing rapidly and raising standards of living. This aspect was particularly admired by many in the Middle East, where people’s interest in the Turkish lifestyle also skyrocketed, as evidenced by the mass appeal of Turkish soap operas depicting alternatives ways of living for modern Muslims.
