For a long period, Turkey has struggled with the move to join the European Union. However, the increasingly reducing democratic space in Turkey limits their chances of joining the EU. There have been massive crackdowns of protests, mega corruption scandals, purge on police and the judiciary, together with the economic slowdown. Despite several years of positive economic growth and expanded democratic space, Turkey is seemingly slipping backwards. The current prime minister is massively involved in reallocation of hundreds of policeman and prosecutors together with greater control of the judiciary that tends to limit Turkey democratic developments. With such moves, the prime minister risks to wrecking the Turkey chances of joining the European Union. The EU is likely to suspect the current based on Erdogan’s attempts to interfere with judicial independence. The Copenhagen criteria of joining EU require that a country must have strong institutions that would promote democracy and human rights. By drawing upon the arguments presented in the Economist and other related readings, this paper makes a sound, standing, and convincible argument for the future of EU enlargement to include Turkey.
The ambition of Turkey to join the EU can be traced back to the 1950s. Initially, there were great achievements as Turkey was quickly expanding its economic and democratic space. However, Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus in 1974 slowed their process of joining the EU. The EU blocked some of the 35 negotiating chapters in response to their conflicts with Cyprus. The French also intervened by blocking some chapters that would facilitate Turkeys motive of joining the EU (Szigetvari 41). Thereafter, the country has tried to be a model of the democratic Arab country. However, the nature by which the country suppressed the mass protests in 2010 brought lots of questions to the country’s democratic ideals. Traditionally, Turkey has experienced a good relationship with the United States of America. However, their decision to buy air defense missiles from China and their stand on Israel strained their relationship with the United States.
Turkey is currently interested in nuclear power station, a tendency that may not be in line with the EU regional policy (Theophylactou 9). The current refugee crisis has also put Turkey in a tricky situation with the EU. Late 2015, the government agreed to start taking back illegal immigrants crossing into the EU. Such a decision was against the commitment to negotiate a visa-liberalization deal for the visiting Turks. Despite their attempts to have a zero problems with the west, Turkey always finds themselves in a tricky situation like the one posed by the illegal migrants. The EU has already warned that turning back the refugees will amount to human rights violations. Therefore, it is becoming tricky for her friends to defend her based on her weird stand on issues and democracy.
Turkey geopolitical position by the end of 20th century tends to differ with their current position today. In the 20th century, Turkey was more determined to expand their democratic space and human rights. There were few cases of human rights violations and abuses. Each year, the country was making great milestones in covering the gap between them and the countries in Europe. In terms of media and the press, the 20th century Turkey was enjoying media freedom and self-regulation (Ucak 180). The media were free to report widely, including the abuses and corruption. In economic front, Turkey made important strides in expanding her economy. There was a steady economic growth from 1950s towards the end of the 20th century. The country gained export competitiveness compared with other countries in the Islamic states. In the 20th century, Turkey used to compete with countries such as India and China in the economic front.
However, the current regime seems to be going against the gains made in the 20th century. There are several incidences of human rights violations and abuses. The media are also under intense pressure from the state and there is limited media freedom. There are incidences where the journalists have been arrested and harassed by state sponsored agents. Despite their impressive economic performance in the past decade, the country has grabbed several headlines currently as a weakened economy. Suddenly, the country has turned from an emerging market with strong economic prospects to a financially vulnerable and weakened economy. In this year, Turkey is suffering from runaway inflation coupled with huge debts and increasing rate of unemployment. By the beginning of the year 2016, her currency had lost about 10% of its value and the country is increasingly falling behind the rival emerging markets. Currently, the current peers of Turkey such as India and China are far much better due to their improved economic outlook.
The current prime minister of Turkey has continually boasted that the EU needs Turkey more than the country needs the UE. He assert that the expanding economic conditions of the country together with her geostrategic role of great benefit to the EU. Currently, the country has adopted the policy of zero problems with her neighbors. In the eve of the Arab springs, the country adopted the model of being moderate and democratic.
Turkey stands to benefit immensely by joining the EU and not vice versa as their leadership thinks. One of the greatest benefits of Turkey joining the EU comes with increased security. Currently, the rise of ISIS has put Turkey in the middle of conflict with the potential of interfering with their peace and security. By joining the EU, Turkey is likely to form strong allies with advanced military capabilities that can easily help the country in case of any problem. On the other hand, Turkey is suffering from the rise of terrorism in Arab countries. Therefore, Turkey needs strong allies in dealing with terrorists and to maintain their peace and stability. Turkey needs the support of the European Union to reduce their risk of becoming a failed state such as her neighbors, Syria and Afghanistan (Akan 77).
Turkey also stands to benefit in terms of employment if they decide to join the EU. Currently, Turkey is suffering from high employment rates, despite harboring young and educated population. If Turkey joins EU, she will be at the advantage in that most of her educated population will get better paying jobs in Europe. The ageing population in Europe needs young, educated population that can easily be provided by Turkey. On the other hand, the country would benefit from the yearly remittance from those employees working in foreign countries. Such will boost the economy of the country and help transform their social outlook. With the current stringent laws of immigration, the young populations in Turkey are disadvantaged in that they are not likely to get better jobs in the EU.
The geographic position of Turkey makes it possible for her to provide the bridge between the two divergent cultures of Europe and the Arab countries. Due to her position, the country is better positioned to mediate in the Middle East than any other European country. Until today, Turkey has better relationship with Israel than any other Islamic state. Therefore, Turkey would benefit immensely by joining the EU due to their role in bridging the two culturally diverse Europe and the Islamic states. In addition, the country is likely to position herself as a leading EU diplomat in solving the rising conflicts in Islamic states.
Turkey also stands to benefit from EU by supporting her economic growth. The EU is a vast economy that needs strong partners to support its massive population. Considering her geographic location, Turkey is in a strategic position to deliver large supplies to the EU from the oil and gas rich Islamic states (Hotonluoglu & Recep 355). Therefore, Turkey would create a whole new market for essential goods needed by the big population in the EU. Most of the countries in the EU have strong economic prospects. With her weak economic status, Turkey would be cushioned from the shocks of the tough economic outlook.
The democratic space in Turkey is still not to the standards of the EU. However, countries hoping to join the EU must adhere to certain democratic standards and respect for human rights. In their desperate attempts to join the EU, Turkey has put in some measures to advance their human rights and to expand their democratic space. In this regard, the country has established moderate reforms towards helping women and ethnic minorities. Furthermore, the country has abolished the death penalty and introduced tougher laws against torture. Therefore, it implies that the country will benefit greatly by abiding to the highest standards of human rights and democracy if they have to join the EU.
Work Cited
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Szigetvári, Tamás. "EU-Turkey Relations: Changing Approaches." Romanian Journal of European Affairs 14.1 (2014): 34-48. ProQuest. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
Theophylactou, Demetrios A. "Turkey's Road to Europe: The "Praetorian" Puzzle and the Search for Direction." Harvard International Review 31.4 (2010): 16-9. ProQuest. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
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The Economist. Going Cold on Turkey. The Economist. Web, Jan 19th 2014 http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21594337-internal-power-struggle-further-dents-turkeys-hopes-joining-european-union-going-cold
