Is Turkey losing its sense of direction?

Turkey's drift from its commitment to the West and its institutions is becoming a widespread perception in Europe and the United States. Sadly, this perception is driving the Turkey-related decision making processes in most of those countries. Turkey is no longer seen as a major asset, partner or like-minded country. On the contrary, the inclination now is to define Turkey more as a liability.

Turkey's republican history has witnessed an interesting journey in its relations with the West. One cannot disregard the psychological effects of the First World War and the subsequent national war of independence, which led to a measure of distance and suspicion about Europe. This in turn became a major motivation for Turkey's attempts to strengthen its relations with neighbors and consolidate its independence.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, the new geopolitical and geostrategic configuration facilitated Turkey's integration with a wider international community. Integration with Europe and its institutions, in that respect, became Turkey's enhanced vocation.

After all, led by Atatürk, this was also what the founding fathers of the Republic had formulated as Turkey's purpose. Membership of NATO, the Council of Europe, the United Nations, the OECD, the OSCE and the signing of the Ankara Treaty to become a member of the European Union were all major milestones of this vocation.

The westernization of Turkey did not require bidding farewell to its history, traditions and cultural values system. However, rapprochement with the West triggered a more comprehensive interaction with a wider set of universal values. Democracy, respect for human rights and freedoms, pluralism, respect for minorities and their rights, liberal civil society,...