Disappointment or New Strength: Exploring the Declining EU Support Among Turkish Students, Academics and Party Members

Abstract

Is the decline of Turkish public support for the European Union (EU) membership better explained by a disappointment about the EU approach to Turkey or by the new self-confidence of the country? This question is relevant because frustration about the accession process could be overcome with more positive signals from the EU. However, if the second factor plays a significant role, this would be an indicator for an enduring alienation between Turks and the EU. This article presents the results of an exploratory study based on an online survey and personal interviews. For one-third of the 618 respondents to the survey, the most important reason for waning EU support is the new strength of Turkey as a rising regional power. In contrast, the interviewed parliamentarians and local party officials consider Turkey's proactive foreign policy approach in its Eastern neighborhood as a complementary and not alternative strategy to Turkey's EU accession.