Turkey and the European Union. Domestic politics, economic integration and international dynamics

Abstract:

Turkey occupies a geopolitical position at the bridge between East and West which presents real identity problems for the nation and its leaders. These problems are repeatedly raised as Turkey seeks to become a full member of the European Union. This collection of essays looks at those problems and considers them in both the domestic and international context.

There are twelve contributions followed by a conclusion. The first paper provides the chronology of EU-Turkey relations which highlights the key meetings and decisions, then the second paper moves to the broader issues involved with particular focus on the domestic scene. There then follows a selection of papers on topics such as strategic and defence issues, Cyprus, immigration, and human rights questions. The next phase examines Turkish attitudes towards the EU, with articles on Turkish nationalism and the roots of anti-European sentiments, the slow progress of accession and the obstacles encountered within the Turkish political classes, the view of the Turkish people and the public support for membership, and the Turkish Parliamentarians' perspective on Turkey's relations with the EU, particularly in the context of the Copenhagen European Council conditions. This is followed by a paper on the EU economic criteria established in the Copenhagen agreement and the challenges presented by Turkey's capacity to meet those conditions. The work closes with a conclusion that the EU debate is at the centre of Turkish political activity, and will dominate the discussions as the nation moves to modernise its political systems to deal with such deep-felt concerns as national unity, security and democracy and integration with the West.

The work will interest scholars, students and researchers in the fields of EU studies, integration politics and Turkish relations with the West.

Ali Çarkoglu is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Sabanci University, Istanbul.

Barry Rubin is Director of the Global Research in International Affairs Center and of its Institute for Turkish Studies.