"Turkey's response to proliferation in the Middle East: Implications on integration with Europe"

Udum, Sebnum. (2003) "Turkey's response to proliferation in the Middle East: Implications on integration with Europe". In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 2003 (8th), March 27-29, 2003, pages 14, Nashville, TN.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the incompatibilities between Turkey's security policy and its decades-long aspiration for integration with Europe with a focus on proliferation threats emanating from the Middle East. After an outline of Turkish security policy, the paper demonstrates the proliferation threat with a discussion of the weapons of mass destruction and missile capabilities of Turkey's Middle Eastern neighbors and security perceptions. The next section provides an overview of Turkey's responses to the threat under its strategic partnerships with the U.S. and Israel. The incompatibilities of this security policy are analyzed in the following section with references to European positions and the accession criteria that Turkey needs to fulfill. These incompatibilities render the status quo unsustainable. The discussion makes use of the need-based analysis of conflict resolution theory in order to find the strategic political decisions that Turkey can take which will uphold its vital national security interests while at the same will fulfill the expectations of Europe.