Monday, April 11, 2011

The Enthusiasm Of Turks For The E.U. Is Decreasing

From EU-Infothek and ADF:

In Focus




Bild: Rainer Sturm / aboutpixel.de

The enthusiasm of the Turks for the EU is decreasing



Currently, according to a recently published GfK survey in favor, half of the Turkish population to their country joining the EU. When, in October 2005, the EU decided to open negotiations with Turkey, there were almost 75 percent. In the meantime, the Turks have become visibly skeptical. This is particularly evident in the cities, where accession to the EU of less than 50 percent are considered positive.

02.23.2011
Editor EU Data LibraryImage: Turkish delight Overall, this mood change is both a consequence of the critical attitude of many have become EU citizens towards Turkey, on the other hand, an expression of growing self-confidence of the Turks. Thus, the land at the Bosporus refer to a very strong economic growth (around 6% last year), is also granted him an important international bridge between the West and the Islamic world. The revolutions and upheavals, particularly in the Arab world, of which we still do not know how the new governments will fit into the political world order, of course, impact on Turkey's role may have. Perhaps Turkey in the future even more so than "transmitter" in demand, perhaps it is in the Islamic world to a truly democratic process, and perhaps with new key countries enter the picture. Uncertainty is certainly called for.

Only 50% of Turks in EU, almost 75% of EU citizens towards Turkey's accession

At around the same time when the Turkish population was surveyed on attitudes to the EU, were also conduct demographic surveys in the EU, which - provided with about 75 percent more than a clear rejection of Turkish accession - including Germany and Austria. Public opinion is in conflict with that opinion, which in some state offices will be represented. Thus, until recently, British Foreign Secretary for the country's accession to the Union calls on the Bosphorus, which is not influenced significantly from the U.S., which itself has always been strong for it to make that Ankara (a cornerstone within NATO) in Brussels can have their say and decide.



The skepticism of the EU population compared to an EU-member Turkey is supported by the other hand, some statistical data.



Currently, Germany is a little more than 81 million inhabitants, the largest country within the EU, followed by France with 62 million. Turkey is currently at 78 million inhabitants, however. The Turkish population - because of their age structure - until the mid-21 Century growth for 2050 projected a population of 95 million. This means that Turkey will be collected at the end of this decade, and Germany would have - it should come to join the EU - the largest country within the EU. You take it exactly with the geography, only 3 percent of Turkey are the European, the rest of 97 percent of the Asian continent. Judging by the religious denomination so within the EU about 14 percent have no denomination, 75 percent are Christian (Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox). In Turkey, 99 percent of Islam, allocated only one percent other religions.

Social change a ways off

Image. Rainer Sturm / about pixel de Not statistically detectable, the still existing social differences that are often swept under the proverbial carpet. Since the time when Turkey is a candidate for full EU membership, although many Turkish laws were adapted to the European legal standards, the development within the Turkish society was thus not keep up. As much as on the one hand, especially the urban and young, educated society open show, hopes to change is determined, in rural areas and also in the eastern parts of the country, old traditional roles in everyday life. The ruling party of Prime Minister Erdogan has indeed - what few know - an observer status with the European People's Party, Erdogan has undoubtedly strengthened the international position of Turkey, pushed back the influence of the military in civil society, and therefore democracy a great service, but also from the great state reformer Ataturk decreed strict separation of state and Islam relaxed.



There are plenty of examples that show that Turkey still prevail in many places, customs, far from the European self-understanding are a humanist, liberal society away. There are enough examples to prove it, but those Turkish newspapers that report on fall out of favor with the government: men, that women wear a headscarf should expect there to all other problems, where the government influence. Girls are forced into marriages with older men, because this is the parents have so agreed. Mayors in some towns pay money for young women even if they decide to wear headscarf. Catholic and Orthodox clergy in particular, to include any case in the fingers of one hand, it must reckon with reprisals are threatened.



The polls reflect on both sides, both European and Turkish, that skepticism within the population that would be appropriate also in London, Washington and some other capitals in the political strategists. The operations in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya & Co., which the Western intelligence services through the bank more than just surprised, at least the past led to questions often.

Learning from geopolitics - not Europe on demand

The old Europe was in possession of much knowledge that it, it seems, has lost in time. Or is the future powers had acquired while they themselves have forgotten it or waived. One of these areas of knowledge is the geopolitics - secret reserve of the state offices, diplomatic academies and general staffs. Geopolitics as a science of influence of the geographical area on the politics of states.



It suffices to look at the map, and confirm any geopolitics is that Turkey should never be a European power. The future of Turkey is located in West Central and Southwest Asia. She is definitely the most advanced leading power in space and ethnic assigned course the distribution area of ​​the Turkic peoples. There lies the future of Turkey, because in this direction, she finds culturally, ethnically and religiously before allied nations and their states. Turkey as a partner for Europe - yes, Turkey as a transmitter - here she is most welcome - no to Turkey as a member of the Union.



Europe has a geographical boundary, a cultural and it also has a limit as to its resilience. Those who do not understand or can not observe these limits, with the failure of the project in Europe. The only do his opponents, not his friends.

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