WHICH SIDE OF THE FENCE? TURKEY’S UNCERTAIN PLACE IN THE EU

This paper is premised on the axiom that the main reason why Turkey wants to join the EU is its desire to be accepted as an equal by the Western civilisation complex. Looking at the EU’s essentialist language, on the one hand, and the Copenhagen ‘objective’ criteria on the other, I will assess ‘what it takes’ for Turkey to join. I will look at how Turkey is faring against the list of reforms expected of it and at why the EU is still deliberating Turkey’s candidacy: have they changed their mind or is elective affinity part of the equation?