SAD, EU i regionalna uloga Turske

Abstract

Turkish new Islamic course, from 2002, has significantly endangered traditional secular democracy, while the economic reformist course maintained its pro European integrative capabilities. Shift towards political Islam restored reminiscences, in new ideological reconstruction, on Ottoman inheritance, both among Western Balkans, especially in context of Yugoslav dissolution, and in course of Middle Eastern crisis emerged after failure of Oslo agreements process, 9/11 and US attack on Iraq in 2003. Turkey is also insecure facing the threats from Kurdish nationalist movements, Islamic terrorists, or Iran threats to Israel and American allies in the region. Turkey is for the US significant strategic partner, and that partnership began to deteriorate from 2001, or 2003. There is also a serious debate about the future of Turkish full EU membership. At least 22 of the 27 EU governments favor the membership once Turkey fulfils all conditions, however Turkey is supposed to satisfy the stiffest criteria ever set for a candidate, and a single EU government can block the process. For Turkish elite the negotiations are also connected with a future affirmation of Turks as equal to Europeans. This message could be crucial also for the Middle East, for Muslim immigrants within the EU, and as well for Western Balkan Muslim states and communities.