Turkey’s European Union Candidacy

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of Turkey-EU relations under the leadership of the same political party (the Justice and Development Party, AKP) and its long-standing leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Through the development of an innovative analytical framework, the book systematically identifies the key factors shaping this relationship, demonstrating the non-linear trajectory of Turkey-EU relations and the process of (de)Europeanisation in Turkey. The study considers the bilateral relationship between the two actors and the (de)Europeanisation of the country as two phenomena that depend on the configuration of individual, national, and systemic factors. In different historical periods, Turkey-EU relations and Europeanisation are perceived either as normative priorities by the country’s leadership or as instrumental strategies for the survival of the government. A core theoretical challenge addressed in this research is the disaggregation of these conditions to determine the varying significance of these factors over time. The book further identifies key parameters for assessing their impact and, based on their configuration, categorises Turkish leadership’s approach to Europeanisation into three distinct phases: committed, indifferent, and hostile. Beyond its primary focus on contemporary Turkish studies, this book makes a significant contribution to the literature on Europeanisation and EU enlargement and will be an essential resource for scholars, students, and practitioners engaged in Turkish studies, EU external relations, and enlargement studies.