Why does Turkey seek European Union membership? a historical institutional approach

Camyar, İsa and Tağma, Halit Mustafa (2010) Why does Turkey seek European Union membership? a historical institutional approach. Turkish Studies, 11 (3). pp. 371-386. ISSN 1468-3849 (Print) 1743-9663 (Online)

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Abstract

Notwithstanding the troubled past and uncertain future of its relations with the European Union (EU), Turkey persists in its bid for membership in the EU. What accounts for Turkey’s continuing pursuit of EU membership? We argue that the historical and institutional trend of modernization has locked Turkey into a pattern of domestic and foreign policies which is difficult, if not impossible, for current policymakers to break or reverse. As part of its modernization process, Turkey chose to follow a Western-oriented foreign policy, which became entrenched during the Cold War era with increasing returns or positive feedback from its overall engagement with the West and Europe in particular. Hence, the policy choices of Turkish policymakers about the EU are constrained by historical and institutional factors.
Item Type: Article
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Academic programs > European Studies
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Academic programs > Social And Political Sciences
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Academic programs > Political Science
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Depositing User: Halit Mustafa Emin Tağma
Date Deposited: 30 Sep 2010 21:33
Last Modified: 26 Apr 2022 08:40
URI: https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/id/eprint/14487

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