The Secularism Debate and Turkeys Quest for European Union Membership
[Article]
Edel Hughes
Leiden
Brill
The potential accession of Turkey to the European Union is undoubtedly one of the Union's most contested prospective enlargements. Among the stated concerns are continuing problems surrounding Cyprus and Turkey's record in terms of fundamental human rights protections. The nature of the Turkish state and its current government, headed by the Islamic Refah Partisi, is also the subject of much discussion. This article traces the development of secularism in modern Turkey and outlines the effect that the Islamic revival is having on both Turkey and its attempts to join the ranks of the European Union. The potential accession of Turkey to the European Union is undoubtedly one of the Union's most contested prospective enlargements. Among the stated concerns are continuing problems surrounding Cyprus and Turkey's record in terms of fundamental human rights protections. The nature of the Turkish state and its current government, headed by the Islamic Refah Partisi, is also the subject of much discussion. This article traces the development of secularism in modern Turkey and outlines the effect that the Islamic revival is having on both Turkey and its attempts to join the ranks of the European Union.