Publication

This paper examines the effect that Istanbul's unclear political strategies and slow installment of EU norms is having on Turkey's EU accession process. The author argues that besides being a long way from meeting the norms and practices required of countries joining the EU, Turkey has other factors inhibiting its membership. These include the ruling Justice and Development Party's euro-skeptic stance, Prime Minister Erdogan's conservative approach to national policy, Turkey's continuous conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and unresolved issues with Cyprus.