The dynamics of the intra-elite debate on Turkey’s integration to the customs union and identity politics (1993-1996)

Abstract

The Customs Union has been the breakpoint point of Turkey’s long history with the European Union. The welcoming of the idea of being included in the European integration witnessed a process which was dominated by the fait accompli attitude of the government by opening a significant era in the future of Turkey’s relations with the EU. This thesis argue that the discourse of the political elite in this period saw an emphasis on identity politics as the only way not to miss the critical opportunity to enter the EU. Through the two-sided discourse, the Çiller government encouraged the unitary and strong state model and protect it more than ever against to increase in identity problems whereas in her relations with the EU, she persuaded the European leaders if they closed down the channels for integration of Turkey, it would leave Turkey alone to deal with ethnic and religious based demands and rise of Euroscepticism. This maneuvering between the domestic politics and relations with the EU affected the process which ended in the completion of the Customs Union in 1996. Through analyzing the dynamics of the CU, this study examines the atmosphere of Turkish internal politics in the 1990s, in the light of the international dynamics. The study aims to give the real atmosphere through analyzing the role of prominent actors such as different views in the print media and business circles and their opinions about Turkey’s integration to the CU and domestic problems in which strengthened the government’s discourse in the unitary state model.