1st Edition
The Influence of the European Union on Turkish Foreign Policy
EU membership provides member states with a new perception of their place in the world; their foreign policies very much influenced by their involvement in the politics of Brussels. The candidate countries also go through the same experience. The membership prospect however, presented a serious challenge to Turkish foreign policy and it was obvious from the moment Turkey was declared as a candidate country in 1999 that its membership perspective was linked to the solution of problems in its domestic and foreign relations. In this book, Özlem Terzi examines the influence of the European Union on the making of Turkish foreign policy since it was declared a candidate country. By comparing an issue specific analysis alongside an actor-based focus, Terzi questions whether such a transformation in the self-perceptions of Turkish policy makers is actually taking place, and whether the policy making process with respect to foreign policy issues expands to include new actors, like the civil society, thus democratizing the way foreign policy is made. Case study rich and packed with interviews with actors involved in policy making in Brussels and Ankara, this book enables the reader to correctly discern the factors that make the Turkish case unique and to reveal whether certain aspects of Turkey's pre-accession process are not as unique as we think. 'The Influence of the European Union on Turkish Foreign Policy' is a valuable and informative contribution for students, researchers and scholars interested on the transformative power of the EU and the role of Turkey's relationship with its neighbours.
Biography
Özlem Terzi is Assistant Professor of International Relations in the Faculty of Political Sciences at Istanbul University, Turkey. Her research interests include EU foreign policy, Europeanisation of national foreign policies, EU-Turkey relations and Turkish foreign policy.
'At a time in which many lament Turkey’s reorientation to the East, Terzi convincingly explains how Europeanization and Turkish foreign policy are actually intimately linked.' Nathalie Tocci, Istituto Affari Internazionali, Italy 'Is Turkish foreign policy moving away from the EU and more generally the West? This timely and well written book provides thoughtful answers to this important question.' Sevket Pamuk, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK 'This is a useful book for anyone wanting a short account of the main issues in contemporary Turkish foreign policy, written by a Turkish academic. It provides a convincing account of the impact of the prospect of EU membership in Ankara, not least in promoting a 'transformation' in Turkey's self-identity.' New Zealand International Review 'Without a doubt, this book is a timely contribution to the discussions about the changing nature of Turkish foreign policy, particularly with regards to the Middle East and the so-called Arab Spring.' Insight Turkey