The Post-westernisation of EU–Turkey Relations

Abstract

This article examines an overly optimistic portrayal of the EU and its relationship with Turkey within the context of an essentialist framework for the dynamics of Turkish politics. It critically scrutinises conventional understandings of the dynamics of Turkey's domestic politics. It professes that relying upon outdated models of domestic political cleavages is not sufficient to understand the key dynamics of Turkey's EU accession process. The article analyses Turkey's interaction with Europe by incorporating, but also moving beyond, the narrow confines of dichotomous thinking: the West–East divide, modern versus traditional, global–local and secular pitted against Islamicist. Drawing upon the contemporary academic literature in Europe and Turkey, the article advances an alternative analytical perspective in order to understand better the dynamic changes within Turkey and Europe.

Keywords:

• post-westernisation
• Turkey
• European Union
• globalisation
• Turkish identity