Turkey and the European Union: The Question of European Identity [Hardcover]

?ner's book provides a valuable insight into the role of political elites and the question of European identity focusing on Turkey and the EU. The analysis of elite interviews with members of the European Commission and European Parliament reveals the lack of consensus of the EU elites about whether to define European identity on a civic or cultural basis. It shows that most respondents find Turkish membership to be a challenge to European identity, because there is still skepticism about the strength of European identity. The book thus raises important normative questions about the boundaries of Europe, post-national identity constructions and the construction of 'Europeanized national identities.'A timely and balanced book that addresses vital questions about the future of Europe. As rightly grasped by the author, the question of Turkey's membership to the EU cannot be divorced from the idea of Europe and European identity. Selcen ?ner's argument incorporates sections on different aspects of European identity and links this issue with the current debates on Turkey's membership to the EU. Both theoretical and field research on the issue provide the reader with a precious insight into how the future of Europe is being shaped on the basis of a process of identity construction.?ner is ideally qualified to write this perceptive work on one of the major issues in European, indeed world, politics. She faces the difficult issues about Turkey's entry into the European Union and points towards how they can best be handled. She not only knows both the EU and Turkey well, she also gives solid content to the idea of a future-oriented European identity for which Turkish membership would be good for both sides.?ner provides a comprehensive overview of how the issue of European identity has been a key aspect in the process of Turkeys EU membership and how Turkey has been a key influencer of what it means to be European. While other factors, such as the economic troubles of the El3o