Turkey and European Security Defence Policy: Compatibility and Security Cultures in a Globalised World

Security perceptions in Europe have changed drastically in the last decade due to the effects of globalisation. Human security has superseded the traditional state-centred security understanding in Europe, which has also affected the EU’s external relations, particularly enlargement and neighbourhood policies. As a result, the EU’s relations with Turkey and the security policies of the EU and Turkey have become an important subject for researchers. Taking into account these recent developments - not least the controversial issue of Turkey's EU candidacy - this book attempts to answer two key questions: ‘Is there a gap between EU and Turkish security cultures?’ and ‘To what extent is Turkey an advantage for Europe?’. Having set the conceptual framework for globalisation and security, Cigdem Ustun examines the theoretical framework of security culture and theories before detailing the effects of the globalised security threats on the EU and Turkey. The historical development of Turkish and European foreign policies are considered in order to illustrate the gap between the security cultures of the EU and Turkey. Furthermore, a comparison of the policies of Turkey and the EU towards the European neighbourhood area illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of Turkey’s inclusion in European security policies. At a time when Turkey’s relations with neighbouring countries and with the EU are discussed extensively and taking into account the crucial role played by Turkey within NATO, this book combines a study of the theoretical framework of security culture and globalization with extensive and detailed research conducted on Turkish-EU relations from a new perspective, providing an historical critical analysis under the security perception framework. Throughout the book, Turkey's relations and priorities in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Black Sea regions are detailed and compared with EU relations and priorities in these regions and both sides of the security role - positive and negative - that Turkey plays in her region are illustrated.