Is Turkey turning its back on the West

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A country's welcome rise
Is Turkey turning its back on the West?
No. But it might if Europe and America cannot come to terms with its success
Oct 21st 2010
one country increasingly popular
whether Turkey is alienating the West?
No, but if Europe and the United States can not accept its success, it is possible.
ITS strategic position, next to the Middle East and Russia and astride Europe and Asia, means that Turkey has always mattered. But over the past decade its significance has hugely increased. For Turkey has gone through two big, and not always widely recognised, transformations: in its economic performance and in its foreign policy.
close to the Middle East and Russia, across Europe and Asia's strategic location means that Turkey has been an important country. But its importance is greatly increased over the past decade. Because of Turkey's economic performance and foreign policy has undergone two large and not widely known around the world changes.
For most of the post-war years the Turkish economy was, to reuse Tsar Nicholas I's 19th-century phrase, lower, the banks are solid and Turkey boasts the fastest-growing economy in the OECD club of rich countries. Because it is resource-poor, this growth reflects fundamental strengths, especially in manufacturing and construction. Turkey makes things like furniture, cars, cement (it is the world's biggest exporter) full lace wigs, shoes, televisions and DVD players. In a sense, it is Europe's BRIC: it might be called the China of Europe.
most years after the war, trapped in unstable growth, high inflation and periodic bank failures, the Turkish economy, to paraphrase the 19th century Czar Nicholas I, then, just as Now a lot of low inflation, banking cautiously, Turkey also in rich countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have the fastest economic growth and pride. Because resources are scarce in Turkey, this growth reflects the fundamental strength, particularly in the manufacturing and construction fields. Turkey production of furniture, cars, cement (which is the world's largest exporter), footwear, TV sets and DVD players and other products. In a sense, it is Europe's
On foreign policy this long-standing member of NATO, with an army second in size only to America's, has always been a bulwark of the West. Turkey and Norway were the only NATO members to border the Soviet Union. But Turkey's pro -Western stance led it to neglect its neighbourhood, including many countries once in the Ottoman empire. Here, too, there has been a transformation. Backed by its strong economy, Turkey has become highly active in its diplomacy across the Middle East, in the Balkans and as far afield as Africa-and not always to the satisfaction of its allies. In a sense, Turkey has become a local diplomatic giant-the Brazil of the region.
on foreign policy, the second only has the number of troops a senior member of NATO in the United States has always been a bastion of the West. NATO members Turkey and Norway only borders with the Soviet Union, but Turkey's pro-Western stance to ignore the neighbors, including many countries that once belonged to the Ottoman Empire. In this respect also there is a change. Its strong economic strength and support of Turkey's diplomatic activities have become very active throughout the Middle East, the Balkans, far away to Africa - and its allies do not always make it satisfactory. In a sense, Turkey has become a regional foreign giants - can be called
You might imagine that Western powers would welcome such an advance. Instead, a more prosperous, bumptious Turkey is jangling many nerves. Europeans are trembling over the prospect of being asked to admit such a populous state into the European Union. The United States, which used to scold the Europeans for their reluctance, is uncomfortable with Turkey's newly adventurous foreign policy. Critics in the West are prone to hide behind the idea that Turkey is drifting towards Muslim fundamentalism and somehow judgment is completely wrong; yet the more that people in the West persist in making it, the greater the chance that they may genuinely lose Turkey.
You may mistakenly believe that Western forces would welcome such a development. Instead, a prosperous and arrogant Turkey is to stimulate the nerves of many people. Thought of being persuaded to accept such a populous country, after the prospect of joining the EU, Europeans are worried. Reluctance of the Europeans before losing theirs and blaming the United States, is now a new venture of the Turkish foreign policy uneasy. Western critics always obscure the view that Turkey is gradually The judge completely wrong, however, more Westerners insist that decision, they really lose the greater the likelihood of Turkey.
The perils of democracy
the risk of democracy
In foreign policy, the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has certainly fallen prey on occasion to excessive Muslim solidarity. It has been too nice to Sudan's ghastly president, Omar al- Bashir, ignoring his indictment for war crimes. It made a mistake by joining Brazil in an ill-fated Iranian nuclear initiative that led to the embarrassing sight of Turkey, a member of the UN Security Council in 2009-10, voting against tougher sanctions on Iran. And its increasingly strident attacks on its once-close ally, Israel, have angered not only the Israelis but also many Americans, especially after the Turkish-led flotilla that tried to In foreign policy, Erdogan's government is no doubt sometimes fall into the hands of Muslim extremists. The Government of the terrible Omar al-Bashir President of Sudan is too friendly, completely ignoring the subject of war crimes prosecutions. The government mistakenly and Brazil to join a doomed to failure in Iran's nuclear program, so that the vote against Turkey's harsh sanctions against Iran the UN Security Council members into the 2009-2010 embarrassing situation. The former close ally of Turkey against the increasingly sharp criticism of Israel, Israel is not only annoying, there are many Americans, especially the Turks in the summer, led the fleet after the siege of Gaza, trying to puzzle.
But wait a moment. Brazil was nice to Iran, without anyone doubting its Western credentials. On Israel, Mr Erdogan has certainly at times played to the Arab street. But many of Turkey's complaints, such as over settlement-building in the West Bank, are hardly controversial. It may have been ill-judged for the government to have been involved with those who launched the Gaza flotilla, but this would not have turned into such a catastrophe had the Israelis not killed nine people on board the leading ship. More fundamentally, the Turkish government is doing what democracies tend to do: reflecting its people's views. Many Muslims think the Palestinians have been ill-treated. From an Israeli viewpoint it is no doubt awkward to have its human-rights record questioned by an elected prime minister, rather than by the usual Arab dictators. But who would America rather hear as a Muslim voice? The autocrats in Egypt and Saudi Arabia? The clerics in Iran?
But wait a minute. Brazil's friendly against Iran, no one doubts their Israel, Erdogan is no doubt sometimes stand and Arab civilians. However, the West Bank settlement construction in Turkey and other issues, such as many of discontent is an undisputed fact. The siege of Gaza and to the solution of the fleet with the However, if not the first Israelis killed nine people on the ship, that does not lead to such a disaster. More fundamentally, Turkey is a democratic country do tend to do: reflect the views of the people. Many Muslims believe that the mistreatment of Palestinians. In accordance with the Israeli point of view, its human rights record of an elected prime minister by the Arab dictators instead of the usual challenge, no doubt is a embarrassment. But the United States more willing to listen to representatives of Muslims who voice it? Egypt and Saudi Arabia's dictators? Iran's clergy?
The Europeans are also in a funk-over Turkey's possible membership of the EU. Negotiations have formally been going on for over five years. No country that has begun such talks has ever failed to be offered membership. But the leaders of France , Germany, Austria and the Netherlands seem dead set against Turkish entry, as is much of their public opinion. The unresolved Cyprus dispute seems a near-insuperable roadblock. Yet if the EU chooses to exclude its own China, it will be turning away the fastest-growing economy in its neighbourhood. It will also lose any hope of influencing the region to its east. At a time when many Europeans fret about being ignored in the world, this would be an historic mistake.
the same for Europeans Turkey may join the European Union and rattled. Formal negotiations have been conducted more than five years. Which has not yet begun such negotiations have not received the national membership. But France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and other countries leaders seem to be firmly opposed to Turkish membership, which is the aspiration of the people. Unresolved Cyprus dispute almost an insurmountable obstacle. However human wigs, if the EU are not allowed to choose their own Many Europeans as being in a neglected and troubled world times, it will be a historic mistake.
How Western are they?
them how
The common excuse for these follies is the claim that Turkey is not really Western-and is becoming ever less so. Once again, Mr Erdogan has done some unhelpful things. Critics note that, ever since his mildly Islamist Justice and Development ( AK) party came to power in 2002, it has been engaged in a battle with the Kemalist secular establishment. He is intolerant of dissent, shown in his battles with critical media commentators. And he is increasingly impatient with the EU.
do The folly is often asserted that Turkey is not really an excuse for the West, and is becoming more and more like. Erdogan has made some unhelpful things. Critics pointed out that since the 2002 ruling, and his mildly Islamist Justice and Development Party was busy with the Kemalist secular Marxist groups maneuver for power potential. From his critical attitude of the media and commentators see the debate, he can not tolerate different opinions. He European Union is increasingly impatient.
Yet fears of Turkey turning into the next Iran are absurd. A new tolerance of the headscarf in universities does not imply a sudden lurch into stoning adulteresses. Mr Erdogan's run-ins with his opponents have certainly created a polarised society; he should adopt a more conciliatory tone if he wins re-election next June. But his opponents in the media still write their critical columns. It is troublemakers in the army who have posed a greater threat to democracy in recent times.
However, Turkey Iran will become the next worries is absurd. Hood of university women there is a new tolerance does not mean that rocks on the adulteress must immediately opposite. Erdogan and the opponent's argument is no doubt that society has divided. If he successfully re-election in June next year, he should adopt a more conciliatory tone. But he is still in the media sector rivals to write a critical column, and the troublemakers within the army again recently created a greater threat to democracy.
In short, Turkey is heading in a good direction. It remains a shining (and rare) example in the Muslim world of a vibrant democracy with the rule of law and a thriving free-market economy. Much though Western leaders would like to turn the argument into one about Turkey, the real question is for them. Are Americans and Europeans prepared to accept Turkey for what it is: a Muslim democracy, with a different culture and diplomatic posture replica watches, but committed to economic and political liberalism? This newspaper hopes the answer is yes.
In short, Turkey is advancing towards a good direction. It has legal order and the free market economy and prosperity of a vibrant democracy, the Muslim world is still bright and rare example. While Western leaders have always likes to focus on the argument over Turkey, but the real issue is in their own. A Muslim democratic country with different cultural and diplomatic position, but committed to economic and political openness, the Americans and Europeans to accept a real good job in Turkey prepared? Newspaper hopes the answer is affirmative.

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