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be analyzed that the motive of Turkey to become a permanent member of the EU tended to be economic and political goals.
a. Economy
In the post-World War 1 the Turkish economic condition was remained weak.
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The four years of 1954 to 1958 were the years of increasing inflation, continued balance-of-payments difficulties and other economic problems. Thus, in
the 1950s the government was aggressively intervening the domestic market and seeking for foreign investment expecting to improve their economic condition.
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At the same time, the EEC now EU was starting to develop and enjoy its success in economic field. Thus, there are many countries who want to be part of this
community, including Turkey which basically only has a little part in the European region. This European Integration was chosen by Turkey because it was
expected to stimulate the growth of the Turkish economy as this community stimulated economic growth of its member countries.
Turkey needs EEC to expand its market and foreign investment.
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The result of exports and imports and foreign investment will greatly help Turkey to rebuild
its economy and if Turkey becomes a member of this community, Turkey will certainly meet the easy way to borrow capital from the EEC, because one of the
EEC duty is to help its members building and advancing their economy. Thus, It is quite obvious that Turkey could take the benefit of economic development if
the Turkey abled to become a member of the European Union at that time. So no
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Feroz Ahmad, The making of Modern Turkey, Routledge, London, 1993, p: 95
61
Katinka Barysch, “The Economics of Turkish Accession”, Centre for European Reforms Essays, London, p: 3
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Ilhan Ozturk and Kamil Sertoglu , “Turkey and European Union Relations: Concept of Customs Union”.p: 3-7
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doubt if the economy is one of the priority goals of Turkey to join the European Union.
b. Politics
In addition to economic reason, another very important thing to be noticed by a country conducting the reformation is the reconstruction of the state system.
Here, Turkey that previously adopted the caliphate system had transitioned into a liberal democratic state. This country had definitely needed the guidance to
implement the democratic system in the country and it has been very famous that the USA and its Western ally, Europe, are the biggest democratic country in this
world. Then due to the proximity of the area and because their close relationship in post-World War, Turkey considered that the most relevant partner to help
Turkish Government to conduct democracy is Europe because Turkey felt that it was part of that territory. During its transition process into a democratic state, in
the late 1970s, Turkey was dominated by military rule, until September 1980 this regime had restructured the constitution and intervened the system of Turkish
government. Until 1983, the new Turkish government could feel again their right to establish parliamentary democracy of its country in November 1983.
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For this reason, Turkeys the political elite and the business community expected the EU
aid to fix the democratic system after the Turkish military intervention.
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The other Turkish interest in politics was to encourage the liberalization of the
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All About Turkey, Military Intervention in Turkey, 2014[online article], available from: http:www.allaboutturkey.comdarbe.htm
, accessed at 252014
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Ihsan Dagi, Democratic Transition in Turkey, 1980-83: The Impact of European Diplomacy, Middle Eastern Studies
, Vol. 32, no. 2. 1996, p: 23
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constitutional and legal system which would help Turkey to improve the democracy in its country like the democracy of Europe.
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4. EUs Response T oward Turkey’s Application for EU Membership
