Comparing Individual Attitudes about EU Membership in Turkey and in Post-Communist Central and Eastern European Countries

Abstract

Comparing Individual Attitudes about EU Membership in Turkey and in Post-Communist Central and Eastern European Countries

Abstract

This article examines whether theories previously developed to explain variations in individual attitudes toward European Union (EU) membership in post-communist Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) also explain attitudes in Turkey. In CEECs, attitudes reflect whether individuals feel they win or lose in economic and democratic transitions. Although Turkey did not experience a transition from communism to liberal democracy, its political and economic spheres have nevertheless changed to meet EU membership conditions. Using 2002.2 and 2003.2 Eurobarometers, I found that, while satisfaction with economic circumstances significantly increased pro-EU attitudes, satisfaction with the democratic system did not increase pro-EU
attitudes in Turkey and many CEECs. 

Keywords

• Public opinion,EU membership,Turkey,Central and Eastern Europe

References

1. Brinegar, Adam P., and Seth K. Jolly. “Location, location, location: National Contextual Factors and Public Support for European Integration.” European Union Politics 6 (2005): 155-180.
2. Çarkoğlu, Ali. “Who Wants Full Membership? Characteristics of Turkish Public Support for EU Membership.” Turkish Studies 4 (2003): 171-194.
3. Christin, Thomas. “Economic and Political Basis of Attitudes towards the EU in Central and East European Countries in the 1990s.” European Union Politics 6 (2005): 29-57.
4. Cichowski, Rachel A. “Western Dreams, Eastern Realities: Support for the European Union in Central and Eastern Europe.” Comparative Political Studies 33 (2000): 1243-1278.
5. Council of the European Union. “Council Decision of 8 March 2001 on the Principles, Priorities, Intermediate Objectives and Conditions Contained in the Accession Partnership with the Republic of Turkey.” Official Journal of European Communities 2001/235/EC (2001).
6. De Vreese, Claes H., and Hajo G. Boomgaarden. “Projecting EU Referendums: Fear of Immigration for European Integration.” European Union Politics 6 (2005): 59-82.
7. Eder, Mine. “Implementing the Economic Criteria of EU Membership: How Difficult is it for Turkey?” Turkish Studies 4 (2003): 219-244.
8. Ehin, Piret. “Determinants of Public Support for EU Membership: Data from the Baltic Countries.” European

9. Frank Schimmelfennig, “Strategic Calculation and International Socialization: Membership Incentives, Party Constellations,
10. and Sustained Compliance in Central and Eastern Europe,” International Organization 59 (2005): 498. Journal of Political Research 40 (2001): 31-56.
11. Eichenberg, Richard, and Russell J. Dalton. “Europeans and the European Community: The Dynamics of Public Support for European Integration.” International Organization, 47 (1993): 507-534.
12. European Commission, Directorate-General Press & Communication, Public Opinion Analysis Sector. Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2002.2. Ann Arbor: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, 2002.
13. European Commission, Directorate-General Press & Communication, Public Opinion Analysis Sector. Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2003.2. Ann Arbor: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, 2003.
14. Franklin, Mark, Michael Marsh, and Lauren McLaren. “Uncorking the Bottle? Popular Opposition to European Unification in the Wake of the Maastricht Treaty.” Journal of Common Market Studies, 32 (1994) :455-472.
15. Gabel, Matthew J., and Guy Whitten. “Economic Conditions, Economic Perceptions, and Public Support for European Integration.” Political Behavior 19 (1997): 81- 96.
16. Gabel, Matthew J. “Public Support for European Integration: An Empirical Test of Five Theories.” Journal of Politics 60 (1998): 333-354.
17. Güney, Aylin, and Petek Karateklioğlu. “Turkey’s EU Candidacy and Civil-military Relations: Challenges and Prospects.” Armed Forces & Society 31 (2005): 439-462.
18. Hooghe, Liesbet, and Gary Marks. “Does Identity or Economic Rationality Drive Public Opinion on European Integration?” PS: Political Science & Politics 37 (2004): 415-420.
19. Inglehart, Ronald. Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990.
20. Karp, Jeffrey A., and Shaun Bowler. “Broadening and Deepening or Broadening versus Deepening: The Question of Enlargement and Europe’s Hesitant Europeans.” European Journal of Political Research 45 (2006): 369-390.
21. Kentmen, Çiğdem. “Determinants of Support for EU Membership in Turkey: Islamic Attachments, Utilitarian Calculations and National Identity.” European Union Politics 9 (2008): 487-510.
22. Lejour, Arjna M., and Ruud A. Mooij. “Turkish Delight: Does Turkey’s Accession to the EU Bring Economic Benefits?” Kyklos:International Review for Social Sciences 58 (2005): 87-121.Long, Scott J. Regression Models for Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1997.
23. Lyons, Pat. “It’s the Economy, Stupid: Popular Support for EU Accession in the Czech Republic.” Sociologicky Casopis - Czech Sociological Review43 (2007): 523-60.
24. McLaren, Lauran M. “Public Support for the European Union: Cost/Benefit Analysis or Perceived Cultural Threat?” The Journal of Politics 64 (2002): 551-566.
25. Öniş, Ziya. “Domestic Politics, International Norms and Challenges to the State: Turkey-EU Relations in the Post- Helsinki Era.” Turkish Studies 4 (2003): 9-34.
26. Pridham, Geoffrey. “EU Enlargement and Consolidating Democracy in Post-Communist States: Formality and Reality.” Journal of Common Market Studies 40 (2002): 953-973.
27. Schimmelfennig, Frank. “Strategic Calculation and International Socialization: Membership Incentives, Party Constellations, and Sustained Compliance in Central and Eastern Europe.” International Organization 59 (2005): 498.
28. Togan, Sübidey. “Turkey: Toward EU Accession.” World Economy 27 (2004): 1013-1045.
29. Tucker, Joshua A., Alexander C. Pacek, and Adam J. Berinsky. “Transitional Winners and Losers: Attitudes toward EU Membership in Post-Communist Countries.” American Journal of Political Science 46 (2002): 557-571.