Integration with the West

Abstract

This chapter catalogues Turkey’s still-incomplete integration with the West, focusing on how security concerns and various conflicts have shaped Turkey’s relations with the West. It covers the inter-war period of the early Republic and Turkey’s dilemmas with respect to involvement in the Second World War. It discusses how the Cold War was a key factor in orienting Turkey’s foreign policy, leading Turkey to join the NATO and seek membership in the European Community (EC). Turkey’s security environment changed in the post-Cold War era, although European Union membership remained a primary goal. In the 21st century, as Turkey has faced new security challenges, including in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Black Sea regions, and the country’s power and ambitions have grown, Turkey’s place and future within the West have been questioned both by Turks and Turkey’s Western partners.