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Lemon:
A few decades back, Turkey used to be a lot poorer than it is today. The country faced a series of catastrophies that began with the decline and the eventual collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey had to wage an unbelievably expensive war on dozens of fronts in a geography ranging from The Caucasus to North Africa. When everything was over, there was an Anatolia invaded by the British, French and Italian soldiers.
The road to the collapse of the empire began in the Balkans with the spread of the nationalist sentiment. You remember Lord Byron, Lawrence of Arabia etc. Turkish republic was founded on a similar nationalistic principles. The roots of Turkishness were sawn during that period. All the major events of the period including the alleged massacre of the Armenians can be linked to this nationalist upheaval.
We are talking about a staggering poverty, pain and unbearable sufferings which constituted the basis of ethnic awareness. The political machine that created this movement made sure that this nationalistic upheaval must be limited to the exact borders of the Ottoman Empire. We would observe years later during the collapse of the Soviet Empire that such things can be planned beforehand and with staggering precision.
Going back to Turkey: Ataturk determined that Turkey must turn its face to the West. He changed so many aspects of society in order to ease the transformation. He revolutionized the educational system to block the venues of superstitious thinking and backward philosophies.
After Ataturk´s death in 1938, another world war began. Though Turkey was not a part of it, it bore the devastating economic consequences. There was a huge economic crisis in the country. Food was sold by ration and the rapid industrialization that marked the first decades of the new republic had come to a halt.
In the 50´s a pro-American party won the election. They had a problem with some of the reforms Ataturk had introduced. They wanted to have a more Islamic Turkey and they wanted the country to follow the example of the US. Tightening mutual relations created a more obedient Turkey which determined its policies in line with the US.
Turkey became a member of many European organizations during this entire period. It was a founding member of The European Council, UN and NATO. Therefore, The EU is considered as a natural next step.
Economically, Turkey does not need the EU. Maybe we just think that we are looking for a better organized country with less conflict and more efficiency. As you can see, the entire history of the new republic is a history of Europeanization. It is such that the concept "europeanization" almost exclusively refer to Turkey.
Turkey and EU!
the hottest topic ever! it keeps coming back. and i still dont understand turks. im trying to, but my way of thinking fails me in getting into the turkish minds although im quite more turkish than anything else (i mean the mentality).
eu promised, eu failed. i think in some aspects mutually.
turkey is a power (according to turks themselves). the power in every sense - military, economy, territory, education etc!(which of course im trying to explain myself despite the huge proportions of turkish diaspora in all the western world)
then why eu is needed? then why turkey is offended so big time? why is this all whinning and anger?
oh, bwt, just two pennies of mine.
the whole discussion resembles the talks at the bazar which never ends and goes nowhere.
Edited (1/21/2010) by vineyards
Edited (1/21/2010) by vineyards
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I do enjoy watching sport, while being a total lazy couch-hugger myself 
Go Sven!