The cost of rapprochement: Turkey’s erratic EU dream as a clash of systemic values

Abstract:

While Turkey struggles to meet EU criteria under European scrutiny, few stop to think of the significance of the reform process for Turkey. Practical advantages notwithstanding, what does it mean for Turkey's state to 'normalize' its legal framework with the acquis communautaire? This essay will highlight the extent to which some EU demands are incompatible with the Turkish state model for they correspond to an altogether different set of priorities. It will show that the biggest challenge facing Turkey is not measured in terms of its ability to meet EU criteria but in terms of its willingness to change the normative content of Turkish politics.