Diachronic relations between Turkey and European Union and present state of affairs

This study is trying to reveal the consequences of the relations with EU on the part of Turkey by providing a comprehensive analysis on half century old Turkey -EU political affairs. Thereby the major objective of the study is to reach a path dependant explanation of the Turkey-EU diachronic relations. Distinctively applying a historical sociological approach, this study examines EU-Turkey relations as a continuous process by analyzing the affairs in turn of pre-EEC, EEC, and EU period axes. As for the data collection and for the interpretation of diplomatic processes legal documents and reports published by the EU institutions are also carefully reviewed. Various legal documents such as Ankara Treaty, Additional Protocol, EU Treaty Decisions, European Parliament Decisions, Accession Partnership Document, EC's Regular Progress Reports on Turkey, Negotiating Framework for Turkey Document, and etc. are examined in order to provide an answer to the study question. Besides, multiple local and foreign studies as well as the journals, newspapers, and articles on EU-Turkey affairs are also constantly referred. As a conclusion, despite the dramatic changes in the EU structure and in the international system during the extant historical period starting from the first membership application to the EEC in 1959 till now, it is indicated that Turkey's dream to become a full EU member by means of economic development and Westernization has never changed. As for the current state of affairs within the negotiation framework period started in 2005, it is observed that the obstacles set forward regarding Turkey's EU accession such as religion, culture, identity, population, human rights, ethnicity, developmental level, and Cyprus problem which took a root in history and recently led Turkey to much more difficult period. In the last analysis, evaluting the current state of affairs in terms of positive and negative political views on Turkey's accession, it is cocluded that as a result of the deepening debates of the EU elites and intergovernmental bargains, Turkey might decide to stand on alternative paths.