The Eu - Turkey Relations: Individualism Vs Nationalism

There are those in Turkey who perceive Turkey’s ambition to join the EU as a state policy. The point they usually stress is the claim that this effort is nothing but the continuation on the path of Westernization that Turkish Republic’s founders set as the premier national goal. There are some others who do not like the EU accession process and what it entails economically or politically. Their arguments are based on what they call “Turkey’s unique situation” and this argument whereby they support a centralistic nation-state rather than an integrated country to Europe. At that point, both pro and cons of the debate have to face another debate: that is the inevitability of the EU. While pro-EU arguments see the accession process as an indispensible part of Turkish modernization, counter opinions seek alternative routes on the other hand.
Supportive arguments for the EU membership not only derives from the foundation of the Turkish Republic and the pro-Western approach it carries, but also economical facts. In this context, Turkey’s trade volume with the EU countries is emphasized consistently. Although Turkey is a part of Europe economically till the Customs Union Agreement of 1995 , it can not be left aside politically. That would not be wrong to say that pro-EU approaches have an integrationist background in economic theory. This is by no means objectors are only consisting of protectionists. However most of them
believe that Turkey’s middle scale industries in its infancy would suffer from the stiff competition that was expected to brought about by the integration. Some indicate that this was the situation after the Customs Union Agreement. No matter what kind of opinions do different interest groups
hold, Turkey has benefitted from the accession process
so far. Stock markets’ performance has reached all-time high this year. Interest rates were cut to historical levels with the elimination of double-digit inflation rates for the first time. Central banks’ reserves hit the level that politicians began to speak of a debt payment to IMF before the scheduled plan. No one can deny the fact that Turkey’s accession process played a major role in this panorama. What precedes reveals that Turkey needs the EU in terms of its economic stability and prosperity. Moreover, Turkey’s full membership is to mutual benefits of both parts. This is especially because Turkey is a cure for aging Europe. If the young generation of Turkey were educated with the help of funds injected by the European budget, European economy would be reinforced with a fresh work force.
Turkey’s national security concerns comes to the forefront in anti-EU chants. According to their thesis, the jeopolitical situation of Turkey makes it crucial for it to pursue its own way. Copenhagen criterias uphold the freedom of speech, freedom of self-expression, civil society, a free press, supremacy of law and all the virtues of a democracy, thereby weakening the nation-states. As the EU countries do not face the terror problems that Turkey has, there’s no need for restriction in those countries. Granted this idea has some truth, it is a widely state-centric view. The ideologies upholding the well-being(!) of a totality rather than individuals are losing ground dramatically in the globalization era. A growing part of the educated public is becoming convinced that Turkey’s problems and its revolving crises cannot be overcome in the absence of a radical change favoring liberalization and democratization. This new generation seems to be sceptical about national security claims and tends to tie national security crowd to particular political circles.
Another argument also voiced by some European leaders is that Turkey is not European. If Turkey becomes a member of the EU, both sides are likely to face an identity crisis. We should say once more that this idea does not reflect the facts. Turkey needs to absorb Western values at least in terms of individual liberty. On the other hand, Europe needs Turkey to show the world once again, Islam can go hand in hand with democracy, open societies, human and women’s rights. This is decisive for the Europe’s security in the 21st century.
The arguments set so far are enough to eradicate a possible euroasia alternative. It goes without saying that even the membership talks made Turkey progress toward democracy, prosperity, civil rights and so on. In this respect, the alternatives, if anything, are not to be taken seriously.
The EU is not only a progressive alternative to moribund political visions, but also a guarantee for a stronger democracy. Whatever one’s ideological standpoint is, this country is already on its way to Europe and has a long way to go. We sometimes believe that there’s something irreversible in history. What I believe is that we are in that irreversible moments nowadays. It may come pleasant to some ears that this country is strong enough to show off an alternative route, but it makes no sense at all! We should move with the time. Otherwise we’ll find ourselves in the scrap-heap of history.

Source: http://forum.seslisozluk.com/showthread.php?t=9633

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