Why Turkey sits outside the tent

Commentary feature. The author writes that 'the accession process has unravelled part of what made Turkey a desirable candidate in the first place.

The things Europeans liked about 20th-century Turkish society (the small public footprint of Islam, relative freedom for women, the availability of alcohol) rested on things Europeans professed not to like about Turkish politics (particularly the role of the army).

Mr Erdogan is 'westernising' Turkey politically – bringing more democracy and a more flexible constitution and driving the army out of the public square. But voters are using this new freedom to 'easternise' the country socially. This means more Islam in political life, a more subordinate role for women and different alliances.

Turks have every right to make these choices. But Europeans have reasons other than prejudice to prefer that they do so outside the EU'.