Publication

This case study argues that the increased influence of public opinion is likely to hurt Turkey’s EU prospects before it helps. It claims that the trend toward more democratic political systems in the EU and in Turkey pulls the two entities apart, rather than bring them closer together. The paper concludes that officials are confronted with two related challenges: convincing Europeans that the benefits of Turkish membership extend beyond strategy, while making sure that European efforts to dissuade Turkey from pushing ahead with its EU bid do not undermine support among Turks for the long list of reforms that lie ahead.