Democracy in Turkey: The Impact of EU Political Conditionality (Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Politics)

This book examines the impact of European political conditionality on the process of democratization in Turkey over a twenty year period. Employing theoretical and conceptual approaches to the issue of EU conditionality, the author compares the case of Turkey to that of other European nations. Arguing that Turkey became vulnerable to the European conditionality when it applied for membership in 1987, he shows how the political reforms demanded of Turkey were not fully carried out as the EU had not in essence accepted Turkey as an official candidate during this period. The EU has started to exert real ‘active leverage’ since Turkey was declared an official candidate in 1999, and the author explores how these conditions have exerted a positive influence on democratic consolidation in Turkey. However, its effectiveness in this regard has diminished to a significant extent due to a number of problems that have continued to remain central in EU-Turkey relations. This comprehensive analysis of Turkey-EU political relations and democratization places the case of Turkey within an international context. As such, it will be of interest not only to those studying Turkish politics, government and democracy, but anyone working in the area of international relations and the EU. Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Abbreviations and acronyms......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1 International politics of democratic consolidation: Theoretical and conceptual perspectives......Page 15 2 The nature and impact of EU political conditionality......Page 52 3 EU conditionality and democracy in Turkey: The pre-Helsinki period......Page 81 4 EU conditionality and democracy in Turkey: The post-Helsinki period......Page 109 5 The impact of EU conditionality in Turkey......Page 152 Conclusion......Page 179 Notes......Page 189 Bibliography......Page 199 Index......Page 232 International Politics Of Democratic Consolidation : Theoretical And Conceptual Perspectives -- The Nature And Impact Of The Eu Political Conditionality -- The Eu Conditionality And Democracy In Turkey : Pre-helsinki Period -- The Eu Conditionality And Democracy In Turkey : Post-helsinki Period -- The Impact Of The Eu Conditionality In Turkey. Ali Resul Usul. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Examines the impact of European political conditionality on the process of democratization in Turkey. Employing theoretical and conceptual approaches to the issue of EU conditionality, this book compares the case of Turkey to that of other European nations. It argues that Turkey became vulnerable to the European conditionality