Discussing Türkiye's European Union Membership Process in the Nineties By Political Parties

Abstract

Since the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, the aspiration to reach the level of contemporary civilizations has been a guiding principle, shaping its relations with the West and Western states. While discussing Türkiye's overall relations with communities established in Europe, particularly during the prosperous 1990s when relations reached their zenith, Turkish politics' handling of the matter and the significance of these relations in domestic and foreign policy have been emphasized. This study aims to demonstrate the factors that have contributed to the current state of European Union-Türkiye relations, which still maintain their relevance today, and the direction they have imparted to Turkish domestic and foreign policy. Simultaneously, this study has allowed for political and societal observations relevant to that era. By offering a general perspective on Türkiye's relations with the West, the study aims to highlight the fluctuating political factors of the 1990s and the variable attitudes of the populace driven by them towards the European Union. In this research, primary sources from the parliamentary records of the relevant period have been utilized. Additionally, surveys, written and visual media, and memoirs of individuals likely to provide insight into the period have been examined. Through this study, the fundamental policies Türkiye aimed to pursue in its relations with the West have been identified, and the 'Europeanization' policies of subsequent governments over the years and their perspectives on the matter have been determined. Moreover, the impacts of the altered political landscape following the 1990s, characterized by the end of the Cold War, on both Europe and Türkiye have been pinpointed. It has been determined that following this period, Türkiye was distanced from the concept of 'full membership' and coerced to manage these relations through economic collaborations. Alongside these insights, the European Union-related programs of the era's political parties and these individuals' positive and negative opinions have been presented.