EU-Türkiye relations during the AKP era: Transformation of political discourse

Between 2002 and 2020, Turkey-European Union (EU) relations under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) experienced varying dynamics across different periods. This study examines the AKP's policies, rhetoric, and transformations regarding the EU membership process. The study finds that Turkey's relations with the EU gained positive momentum between 2002 and 2005, driven by a reform process, but slowed down after 2005 due to various political and diplomatic obstacles. In the early years of the AKP, EU membership was seen as a lever for democratization, legal reforms, and economic development; during this period, significant legal arrangements were made to comply with the Copenhagen Criteria. With the start of negotiations in 2005, EU-Turkey relations reached a historical turning point; however, the Cyprus issue, the enlargement-opposing stances of France and Germany, and domestic political debates on membership complicated the process. From the 2010s onwards, Turkey's foreign policy took on a more multidimensional structure, and the EU process began to lose its priority status. Domestic political developments, such as the 2013 Gezi Park protests, the 2016 coup attempt, and the subsequent state of emergency, affected the perception of democratization in Turkey, negatively impacting relations with the EU. During this period, the EU increased its criticism of Turkey, while the AKP's rhetoric gradually evolved towards a more independent and non-Western-centric foreign policy approach. The study also examines the impact of the EU process on Turkey's political discourse. While the discourse of "EU reforms" dominated in the early 2000s, concepts such as "national will" and "local and national stance" became more prominent from the mid-2010s onwards. As criticism towards the EU increased, Turkey's discourse of being a regional power gained strength. Particularly after 2016, the EU process became a secondary issue, and Turkey's foreign policy shifted towards a more independent and multipolar direction. In conclusion, Turkey-EU relations followed a fluctuating course between 2002 and 2020, while the political discourse evolved from a pragmatic approach to one emphasizing nationalism and independence. This transformation should be evaluated as a result of both domestic and international political developments.