The Exhausted Dream of Membership? Divergence and Strategic Repositioning in Türkiye-European Union Relations

Öz

This study examines Türkiye’s relations with the European Union (EU) during the period 2002-2024, focusing on the transformation from the goal of full membership to differentiated integration models. The study reveals that during the early years of the Justice and Development Party’s rule, a reform-based membership perspective was at the forefront, but that internal and external developments in both Türkiye and the EU profoundly affected this process over time. While Türkiye’s foreign policy has become increasingly characterised by multilateralism and the pursuit of strategic autonomy, the EU’s enlargement fatigue, internal divisions and flexibility in normative criteria have caused the accession process to lose momentum. Within this framework, relations have been reduced to a level of functional cooperation in areas such as trade, migration and security. The study evaluates the transformation of Türkiye-EU relations through a qualitative research method, drawing on academic works in the literature. The findings indicate that the classical full membership model is increasingly being replaced by strategic partnership and differentiated integration frameworks. In this context, the study aims to contribute to the discussion of alternative institutional and political scenarios for the future of Türkiye-EU relations.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Türkiye-EU Relations
• AK Party
• European Union Membership
• Strategic Autonomy
• Foreign Policy

TÜKENEN ÜYELİK HAYALİ? TÜRKİYE’NİN AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ İLE İLİŞKİLERİNDE AYRIŞMA VE STRATEJİK YENİDEN KONUMLANMA

Öz

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Avrupa Birliği (AB) ile ilişkilerinde 2002-2024 dönemini inceleyerek, tam üyelik hedefinden farklılaştırılmış entegrasyon modellerine yönelen dönüşümünü ele almaktadır. Çalışma, Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi iktidarının ilk yıllarında reformlara dayalı üyelik perspektifinin ön planda olduğunu ancak zamanla hem Türkiye’de hem de AB’de yaşanan iç ve dış gelişmelerin bu süreci derinlemesine etkilediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Türkiye’nin dış politikasında çok yönlülük ve stratejik özerklik arayışı belirginleşirken, AB tarafında genişleme yorgunluğu, iç bölünmeler ve normatif kriterlerdeki esneklik, üyelik sürecinin ivme kaybetmesine neden olmuştur. Bu çerçevede, ilişkiler daha çok ticaret, göç ve güvenlik gibi alanlarda işlevsel işbirliği düzeyine indirgenmiştir. Çalışmada, Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinin geçirdiği dönüşüm, literatürdeki akademik çalışmalar ışığında nitel araştırma yöntemiyle değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, klasik tam üyelik modelinin yerini giderek daha fazla stratejik ortaklık ve farklılaştırılmış entegrasyon çerçevelerine bıraktığını göstermektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışma, Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinin geleceğine dair alternatif kurumsal ve siyasi senaryoların tartışılmasına katkı sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Türkiye-AB İlişkileri
• AK Parti
• Avrupa Birliği Üyeliği
• Stratejik Özerklik
• Dış Politika

Kaynakça

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