There's been a lot of buzz recently about the recent change in Turkey's foreign policy and the implications of its cultural and strategic directions. Recently, Financial Times' Philip Stephens penned one of the more intelligent analyses of these changes, which says everything I would want to say on the topic and then some.
Al-Jazeera has carried a two part interview, certainly worth watching, with Turkey's FM, Ahmet Davutoglu and his "New Ottoman" approach (part 1; part 2). The Economist has also weighed in.
I think it is manifestly to Europe's loss that the major EU members are now turning against Turkey (and Europe has become increasingly insular, when it should be more confident), but I don't think Turkey should pursue EU membership as things stand.
Opposition to Turkey is articulated in frankly racist terms, with little political, economic or strategic intelligence or even reservations; that kind of opposition has to be fixed within Europe (although the presence of Turks in the EU would be good for Europe's beleaguered Muslim minorities -- but European racisms include too much of the political spectrum, and it is hard to see why Turkey, a successful and growing power, should subject itself to that kind of treatment.)
In other words, the problem is not that Turkey hasn't reached EU "standards", it's the feeling that it cannot, by virtue of its Muslimness and Easterness. This creates a feedback loop.
If Turkey joined the EU, it would probably be deeply marginalized; not to mention, I fear the EU would never let Turkey join, considering it would rival or even pass Germany's population to become the demographically biggest member. What do you think?
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