Running around in circles? The cyclical relationship between Turkey and the European Union

An exploration of the impact of the European Union (EU) on the acceleration or deceleration of Turkey's reform process argues that Turkey-EU relations have been a key factor in Turkey's domestic transformation, sometimes fostering change, & at other times obstructing modernization & democratization. The long & turbulent path of EU-Turkey relations is traced & juxtaposed with trends in the domestic environment to reveal their impact on the process of domestic transformation. It is shown that Turkey's pro-reform process has been strengthened whenever the EU has responded positively to Turkey's approaches; however, opponents of reform have gained force whenever the EU has appeared to reject Turkey's overtures. Special attention is given to the importance of both the diminished perception of an Islamist threat & the increased public desire for democracy & human rights. Although Turkey is currently moving in a positive direction, it is concluded that continued support for democratic change cannot be taken for granted. However, "the EU dimension remains indispensable to ensure that the moment of irreversibility will be reached.". J. Lindroth