In this article the author argues that Turkey can be a positive catalyst for democratic change in the Middle East. In its evaluation of the potential success of thedemocratization process, the article analyzes eight indicators of the democraticrequirements for countries in need of change in the region: their economic situation,the international climate, a past democratic experience, the existence of pastdemocratic culture and institutions, and the role of ethnicity and civil society.In a recent speech the famous political scientist Samuel Huntington described three alternatives for the future of the Turkish Republic. Please click here to read the text in full