Positions of Turkish Political Parties on European Integration

Abstract

Although academic studies on the positions of political parties in European Union member states concerning European integration have increased since the end of 1990s, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive research on this topic in Turkey. This article examines the positions on European integration of Turkish political parties competing in the 2002, 2007 and 2011 general elections. It shows that there are more Eurosceptic and Eurorejectionist parties than Euroenthusiast parties. This can be explained by the lack of elite consensus on European integration in Turkey due to specific features of Turkey-EU relations.