Clashing civilisations on the banks of the Bosphorus

Commentary feature discuss tensions in EU-Turkey relations, in the context of Turkey's application to join the EU. Author concludes: 'A better reason to press ahead is that it is simply too soon for pro-European Turks to despair. There is no guarantee their application will end in success; but equally there is no guarantee it will end in failure. As long as the Turkish government sincerely believes it is in the country's interests to pursue EU membership, it is in Europe's interests to keep talking'