AKP and Paradox of Islamic Europhilia, Spring 2004

While Turkish political Islam has historically expressed its opposition to the prospect of Turkey’s full participation in a “Christian Club,” the recent EU policy of AKP has constituted a radical breach with that past: AKP is now among the staunchest supporters of Turkey’s EU integration. The AKP case is only seemingly a paradox. In fact, it is highly indicative of how ruling party agendas are modified on account of realism, expedience and external pressure. The success of the AKP’s EU policy would refute the incompatibility of Islamic politics with Western political values, while its viability will be affected by the EU’s stance on Turkey’s membership bid...Please click here to read the text in full.