‘The Final Fall of the Ottoman Empire’: Arab Discourse over Turkey’s Accession to the European Union

Abstract: This essay maps the various Arab opinions regarding Turkey's possible accession to the European Union. The main argument is that most Arab leaders prefer to abstain from adopting a clear posture given the uncertainty surrounding the question. Arab intellectuals, in general, tend to support Turkey's accession, while at the same time they express some skepticism with regard to European willingness to actually admit Turkey to the EU. Arab discourse, however, also reflects the fears of a society concerned with the possible erosion of Turkey's Islamic identity as a result of its accession to the EU and implications of that for the Arab world. By evading the issue of Turkey's accession to the EU, Arab and Islamic elites are making a serious mistake. Whether the EU is going to admit Turkey or reject its membership, the ramifications for the Arab world will be significant. Therefore, the leaders of the Arab states should be advised to begin seriously addressing this question.