Turkey’s National Security Concept - A Major Factor Hindering Membership of the European Union

Abstract

Turkey‟s state-centered and traditional security policy gives priority to “high politics” and attempts to solve problems on the basis of military power. In contrast to the global trend, and particularly in the European Union (EU), Turkey‟s securitization tradition has not changed in the last few decades and its Armed Forces have even enlarged their profile, especially whilst dealing with the Kurdish issue and the rise of political Islam, both of which are threats to the core principles of the Turkish Republic. This article argues that the Turkish security identity is not compatible with the European identity, which is a product of the Europeanization of security. This incompatibility of security identities poses the main impediment to Turkey‟s inclusion into the EU‟s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Turkey should Europeanize its security identity by stressing low-political considerations while dealing with its internal and external threats in order to be a member of the European Club.