Although Turkey has been knocking on the EU's gates for almost four decades, only the echo of that knock was being heard in Lithuania until 2004. After Lithuania joined the EU, the question of Turkish membership in the EU was by design added to the agenda of the Lithuanian government's foreign policy. High-ranking state officials rushed to assure both citizens and the world that Lithuania supports the objectives of Turkey, whereas opposition (rightist) parties expressed concern about the lack of debate on this issue in the Parliament, the government and society in general. The opinion of the society, to which the Lithuanian government had not yet appealed in any way, is not clear yet. Political analysts and journalists writing on this issue tend to demonize Turkey and practically frighten the general public. It seems that a passively negative mood is settling over ordinary citizens, which in the case of referendum can become potential "No's" to the Turkish membership in the Bloc.
This Master's thesis analyzes the situation of the Kurdish minority in the Republic of Turkey during the period of 2003–2012. The first part of the thesis defines the concept of national minorities in the Republic of Turkey. The second part of the thesis examines the improvement of political and cultural rights of the Kurdish minority during the period of 2003–2012, also defines the influence of EU and AKP on the reforms. In the third part of the thesis the Kurdish national minority in Turkey and Iraq is compared in the historical and political context
This Master's thesis analyzes the situation of the Kurdish minority in the Republic of Turkey during the period of 2003–2012. The first part of the thesis defines the concept of national minorities in the Republic of Turkey. The second part of the thesis examines the improvement of political and cultural rights of the Kurdish minority during the period of 2003–2012, also defines the influence of EU and AKP on the reforms. In the third part of the thesis the Kurdish national minority in Turkey and Iraq is compared in the historical and political context
The object of this master thesis is the perspectives of Turkey entering the European Union, i.e. problems Turkey has to face in the fields of politics, economics, cultural values and human rights protection, EU pressure for the state to solve these problems and actions in response to this pressure. While analyzing evolving problems, the effectiveness of their salvations and compromise finding in the EU – Turkey relations, this paper estimates realistic perspective of Turkeys' path towards the Union. The goal of the research is to ascertain how Turkeys' political, economical, cultural and human rights peculiarities and their influences affect the reach of the main target – membership in the EU. To meet the goal and fulfill the tasks of this paper the descriptive analytical method is being used. The development of EU – Turkey relations are being reviewed, meanwhile sorting out what kind of difficulties stops the state from entering; EU member states, public and official opinions are being analyzed to evaluate possible perspectives for Turkey; main political and economical interests of both sides are being compared, the main gaps are being discovered, the possible effect of internal and external policies are being discussed; cultural and religious differences and how they come to surface in the framework of Turkey entering EU is being analyzed; finally the main problems the state has to face in the field of human rights protection are being named, the ways Turkey is solving these problems are being presented and the possible impact of human rights problems on the EU – Turkey relations are being discussed. Year 2010 marks 5 year anniversary from the beginning of Turkey accession negotiations; this determines reactivated debates in the European political arena about possible states integration to EU. During the negotiation period Turkey with aid from EU tried to exercise as much as possible vital reforms but the results are not sufficient. The state has not yet normalized diplomatic relations and hasn't opened its ports for trade with Cyprus, human rights violations are common in various fields and judicial reforms are crucial. European Commission in 2010 announced that if Turkey doesn't speed up its reforms, negotiations may be frozen. Meantime, a number of European states share a solid objecting position towards Turkey entering the EU. All these obstacles lead to predictions that in the nearest decade Turkey will not become a member state of the EU. Before it does, the state will have to settle with the association treaty as heads of Turkey are not willing to accept the privileged partnership offered by France and Germany.
The object of this master thesis is the perspectives of Turkey entering the European Union, i.e. problems Turkey has to face in the fields of politics, economics, cultural values and human rights protection, EU pressure for the state to solve these problems and actions in response to this pressure. While analyzing evolving problems, the effectiveness of their salvations and compromise finding in the EU – Turkey relations, this paper estimates realistic perspective of Turkeys' path towards the Union. The goal of the research is to ascertain how Turkeys' political, economical, cultural and human rights peculiarities and their influences affect the reach of the main target – membership in the EU. To meet the goal and fulfill the tasks of this paper the descriptive analytical method is being used. The development of EU – Turkey relations are being reviewed, meanwhile sorting out what kind of difficulties stops the state from entering; EU member states, public and official opinions are being analyzed to evaluate possible perspectives for Turkey; main political and economical interests of both sides are being compared, the main gaps are being discovered, the possible effect of internal and external policies are being discussed; cultural and religious differences and how they come to surface in the framework of Turkey entering EU is being analyzed; finally the main problems the state has to face in the field of human rights protection are being named, the ways Turkey is solving these problems are being presented and the possible impact of human rights problems on the EU – Turkey relations are being discussed. Year 2010 marks 5 year anniversary from the beginning of Turkey accession negotiations; this determines reactivated debates in the European political arena about possible states integration to EU. During the negotiation period Turkey with aid from EU tried to exercise as much as possible vital reforms but the results are not sufficient. The state has not yet normalized diplomatic relations and hasn't opened its ports for trade with Cyprus, human rights violations are common in various fields and judicial reforms are crucial. European Commission in 2010 announced that if Turkey doesn't speed up its reforms, negotiations may be frozen. Meantime, a number of European states share a solid objecting position towards Turkey entering the EU. All these obstacles lead to predictions that in the nearest decade Turkey will not become a member state of the EU. Before it does, the state will have to settle with the association treaty as heads of Turkey are not willing to accept the privileged partnership offered by France and Germany.
The object of this master thesis is the perspectives of Turkey entering the European Union, i.e. problems Turkey has to face in the fields of politics, economics, cultural values and human rights protection, EU pressure for the state to solve these problems and actions in response to this pressure. While analyzing evolving problems, the effectiveness of their salvations and compromise finding in the EU – Turkey relations, this paper estimates realistic perspective of Turkeys' path towards the Union. The goal of the research is to ascertain how Turkeys' political, economical, cultural and human rights peculiarities and their influences affect the reach of the main target – membership in the EU. To meet the goal and fulfill the tasks of this paper the descriptive analytical method is being used. The development of EU – Turkey relations are being reviewed, meanwhile sorting out what kind of difficulties stops the state from entering; EU member states, public and official opinions are being analyzed to evaluate possible perspectives for Turkey; main political and economical interests of both sides are being compared, the main gaps are being discovered, the possible effect of internal and external policies are being discussed; cultural and religious differences and how they come to surface in the framework of Turkey entering EU is being analyzed; finally the main problems the state has to face in the field of human rights protection are being named, the ways Turkey is solving these problems are being presented and the possible impact of human rights problems on the EU – Turkey relations are being discussed. Year 2010 marks 5 year anniversary from the beginning of Turkey accession negotiations; this determines reactivated debates in the European political arena about possible states integration to EU. During the negotiation period Turkey with aid from EU tried to exercise as much as possible vital reforms but the results are not sufficient. The state has not yet normalized diplomatic relations and hasn't opened its ports for trade with Cyprus, human rights violations are common in various fields and judicial reforms are crucial. European Commission in 2010 announced that if Turkey doesn't speed up its reforms, negotiations may be frozen. Meantime, a number of European states share a solid objecting position towards Turkey entering the EU. All these obstacles lead to predictions that in the nearest decade Turkey will not become a member state of the EU. Before it does, the state will have to settle with the association treaty as heads of Turkey are not willing to accept the privileged partnership offered by France and Germany.
In the Master's thesis the concept of youth policy is explored in more detail in the context of several related areas: first, with respect to Europeanization and the processes that influence it; second, the relationships between the EU and the Republic of Turkey in the area of youth policy; and third, the effects of the educational mobility programmes on the youth policy of the Republic of Turkey. The first cluster of issues includes a discussion of the youth paradigm, formulation and shaping of youth policy, the EU guidelines regarding this area, open method of coordination, and youth volunteer policy. The second group of questions deals with the European identity, the scope of Europeanization, activities of the Council of Europe, and the Bologna process. The last theoretical chapter is devoted to the analysis of relationships between the EU and the Republic of Turkey in the area of youth policy, the development of education in Turkey, as well as the links in youth policy between the EU and the Republic of Turkey. Chapter 4 presents the findings based on the analysis of the empirical material and statistical information. The analytical part concentrates on the effects of educational mobility programmes in implementing youth policy measures in the Republic of Turkey.
In the Master's thesis the concept of youth policy is explored in more detail in the context of several related areas: first, with respect to Europeanization and the processes that influence it; second, the relationships between the EU and the Republic of Turkey in the area of youth policy; and third, the effects of the educational mobility programmes on the youth policy of the Republic of Turkey. The first cluster of issues includes a discussion of the youth paradigm, formulation and shaping of youth policy, the EU guidelines regarding this area, open method of coordination, and youth volunteer policy. The second group of questions deals with the European identity, the scope of Europeanization, activities of the Council of Europe, and the Bologna process. The last theoretical chapter is devoted to the analysis of relationships between the EU and the Republic of Turkey in the area of youth policy, the development of education in Turkey, as well as the links in youth policy between the EU and the Republic of Turkey. Chapter 4 presents the findings based on the analysis of the empirical material and statistical information. The analytical part concentrates on the effects of educational mobility programmes in implementing youth policy measures in the Republic of Turkey.
This thesis explores the evolution of Kurdish issue in Turkey during the period from 2003 to 2015. It analyzes the political circumstances shaped by the ruling party, AKP (Justice and Development Party) which is led by the current president R.T. Erdogan, and the stages that the Kurdish issue went through. At the beginning the thesis examines the concepts ethnic identity, nation, nationalism that are related to structure of Kurdish people. The theories are taken from different sources and compared and analyzed in various ways. In the next chapter, the thesis introduces the Kurds with their history and origin, and their social structure including language, religion, social and cultural life. The following chapter is formed by observing the political scene of Turkey from 2003 to 2015 which constructs the core study of the thesis. Accordingly, it examines how the AKP became a successful actor in the political arena of Turkey, the contribution of the Kurdish political parties in Turkey's political scene, and the processes that are aimed to solve the Kurdish issue in the country. Afterwards, this paper analyzes the perspectives of current Kurdish political parties in Turkey toward the present situation of the Kurds and their perceptions for the solution of the issue. Henceforth, the paper also indicates the evaluation of the perspectives of Kurdish political parties through the theories that are used to determine the criteria of national and ethnic identity for the sake of implementing the theories on the identical, social and political structures of the Kurds. In conclusion, the paper is aimed to emphasize the situation of the Kurds in Turkey with their rights and freedoms and promote the alternative elements regarding the solution of the Kurdish question.
This thesis explores the evolution of Kurdish issue in Turkey during the period from 2003 to 2015. It analyzes the political circumstances shaped by the ruling party, AKP (Justice and Development Party) which is led by the current president R.T. Erdogan, and the stages that the Kurdish issue went through. At the beginning the thesis examines the concepts ethnic identity, nation, nationalism that are related to structure of Kurdish people. The theories are taken from different sources and compared and analyzed in various ways. In the next chapter, the thesis introduces the Kurds with their history and origin, and their social structure including language, religion, social and cultural life. The following chapter is formed by observing the political scene of Turkey from 2003 to 2015 which constructs the core study of the thesis. Accordingly, it examines how the AKP became a successful actor in the political arena of Turkey, the contribution of the Kurdish political parties in Turkey's political scene, and the processes that are aimed to solve the Kurdish issue in the country. Afterwards, this paper analyzes the perspectives of current Kurdish political parties in Turkey toward the present situation of the Kurds and their perceptions for the solution of the issue. Henceforth, the paper also indicates the evaluation of the perspectives of Kurdish political parties through the theories that are used to determine the criteria of national and ethnic identity for the sake of implementing the theories on the identical, social and political structures of the Kurds. In conclusion, the paper is aimed to emphasize the situation of the Kurds in Turkey with their rights and freedoms and promote the alternative elements regarding the solution of the Kurdish question.
This thesis explores the evolution of Kurdish issue in Turkey during the period from 2003 to 2015. It analyzes the political circumstances shaped by the ruling party, AKP (Justice and Development Party) which is led by the current president R.T. Erdogan, and the stages that the Kurdish issue went through. At the beginning the thesis examines the concepts ethnic identity, nation, nationalism that are related to structure of Kurdish people. The theories are taken from different sources and compared and analyzed in various ways. In the next chapter, the thesis introduces the Kurds with their history and origin, and their social structure including language, religion, social and cultural life. The following chapter is formed by observing the political scene of Turkey from 2003 to 2015 which constructs the core study of the thesis. Accordingly, it examines how the AKP became a successful actor in the political arena of Turkey, the contribution of the Kurdish political parties in Turkey's political scene, and the processes that are aimed to solve the Kurdish issue in the country. Afterwards, this paper analyzes the perspectives of current Kurdish political parties in Turkey toward the present situation of the Kurds and their perceptions for the solution of the issue. Henceforth, the paper also indicates the evaluation of the perspectives of Kurdish political parties through the theories that are used to determine the criteria of national and ethnic identity for the sake of implementing the theories on the identical, social and political structures of the Kurds. In conclusion, the paper is aimed to emphasize the situation of the Kurds in Turkey with their rights and freedoms and promote the alternative elements regarding the solution of the Kurdish question.
This dissertation aims at refining the concept of soft power in theoretical rigour, as well as proposing at least one way to operationalize it. In order to do so, Anthony Giddens's theory of structuration is employed. A general thesis of this dissertation is that EU enlargement process encompasses a structure of differentiated social roles which translates into soft power relations among actors fulfilling these roles; yet the power structure itself endures only so long as the particular actors involved in this process behave according to their role prescriptions. Admission of new members to the Union is treated as a social institution (an institutionalized process), involving rules and constraining member states and candidates alike. After an in-depth analysis of Turkish accession to the EU, a conclusion is made that normally candidates – even such ostentatious candidates like Turkey – do acknowledge the right of actors on the EU side to assign concrete tasks for them that are compatible with the "objective" and "reasonable" standards of membership, and their own duty to implement them. Yet they also believe that the members have a moral obligation to reward such compliance with eventual recognition of full membership. Thus an increase or a decrease in soft power is visibly dependent on the EU's willingness to play by institutional rules, stick to the role prescriptions and not to abuse its power.
This dissertation aims at refining the concept of soft power in theoretical rigour, as well as proposing at least one way to operationalize it. In order to do so, Anthony Giddens's theory of structuration is employed. A general thesis of this dissertation is that EU enlargement process encompasses a structure of differentiated social roles which translates into soft power relations among actors fulfilling these roles; yet the power structure itself endures only so long as the particular actors involved in this process behave according to their role prescriptions. Admission of new members to the Union is treated as a social institution (an institutionalized process), involving rules and constraining member states and candidates alike. After an in-depth analysis of Turkish accession to the EU, a conclusion is made that normally candidates – even such ostentatious candidates like Turkey – do acknowledge the right of actors on the EU side to assign concrete tasks for them that are compatible with the "objective" and "reasonable" standards of membership, and their own duty to implement them. Yet they also believe that the members have a moral obligation to reward such compliance with eventual recognition of full membership. Thus an increase or a decrease in soft power is visibly dependent on the EU's willingness to play by institutional rules, stick to the role prescriptions and not to abuse its power.
This dissertation aims at refining the concept of soft power in theoretical rigour, as well as proposing at least one way to operationalize it. In order to do so, Anthony Giddens's theory of structuration is employed. A general thesis of this dissertation is that EU enlargement process encompasses a structure of differentiated social roles which translates into soft power relations among actors fulfilling these roles; yet the power structure itself endures only so long as the particular actors involved in this process behave according to their role prescriptions. Admission of new members to the Union is treated as a social institution (an institutionalized process), involving rules and constraining member states and candidates alike. After an in-depth analysis of Turkish accession to the EU, a conclusion is made that normally candidates – even such ostentatious candidates like Turkey – do acknowledge the right of actors on the EU side to assign concrete tasks for them that are compatible with the "objective" and "reasonable" standards of membership, and their own duty to implement them. Yet they also believe that the members have a moral obligation to reward such compliance with eventual recognition of full membership. Thus an increase or a decrease in soft power is visibly dependent on the EU's willingness to play by institutional rules, stick to the role prescriptions and not to abuse its power.
This dissertation aims at refining the concept of soft power in theoretical rigour, as well as proposing at least one way to operationalize it. In order to do so, Anthony Giddens's theory of structuration is employed. A general thesis of this dissertation is that EU enlargement process encompasses a structure of differentiated social roles which translates into soft power relations among actors fulfilling these roles; yet the power structure itself endures only so long as the particular actors involved in this process behave according to their role prescriptions. Admission of new members to the Union is treated as a social institution (an institutionalized process), involving rules and constraining member states and candidates alike. After an in-depth analysis of Turkish accession to the EU, a conclusion is made that normally candidates – even such ostentatious candidates like Turkey – do acknowledge the right of actors on the EU side to assign concrete tasks for them that are compatible with the "objective" and "reasonable" standards of membership, and their own duty to implement them. Yet they also believe that the members have a moral obligation to reward such compliance with eventual recognition of full membership. Thus an increase or a decrease in soft power is visibly dependent on the EU's willingness to play by institutional rules, stick to the role prescriptions and not to abuse its power.
