Seda Gürkan | Leiden University (original) (raw)
Books by Seda Gürkan
Theorizing the Crises of the EU, 2021
This book examines the relevance of integration theories for studying and analsing the crisis sit... more This book examines the relevance of integration theories for studying and analsing the crisis situations faced by the EU since 2009. Ten years on from the start of the ‘age of crisis’, it critically analyses the impact of the multiple crises’ context on the EU polity and questions the utility of integration theories for grasping the peculiarities of the particular crisis under study. Bringing together prominent scholars in EU studies, the volume constitutes an essential reference book on integration theories. Its contribution is twofold. First, it provides a comparative overview of classical integration theories for studying and analysing current crisis situations the EU faces. Second, the book connects theories to current debates through an in-depth discussion of recent crises that hit European integration since 2009, with a particular focus on the financial crisis, Brexit, refugee crisis, illiberal tendencies in some member states, and the Coronavirus pandemic. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European integration, European Union politics, political theory, and, more broadly, to European studies.
Journal Articles and Book Chapters (Peer-reviewed) by Seda Gürkan
Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this question, the ... more Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this question, the article, first, maps the legitimizing arguments put forward by the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in promoting an emotionally loaded norm vis-à-vis Turkey, i.e., the recognition of the Armenian genocide. Second, the paper explores the reasons behind the promotion of this emotional norm by the European Parliament (EP) as justified by the MEPs. The article theoretically draws on the IR literature on emotions, and empirically, it relies on the data generated from the interventions by the MEPs at the plenary on the centenary of the Armenian genocide on 15 April 2015. Through claims analysis, it is demonstrated that the condemnation of genocide is a shared norm within the EP, which transcends national and ideological differences. Consequently, the MEPs aspire to render it an essential constitutive element of the emotional community at the EU level.
Introduction: emotion(al) norms in EUropean foreign policy, 2021
This special issue examines the nexus between emotions and norms in EUropean foreign policy. Theo... more This special issue examines the nexus between emotions and
norms in EUropean foreign policy. Theoretically, building on the
existing IR-literature on emotions, the Special Issue distinguishes
between “emotion norms” (which refer to the appropriate
emotional expressions) and “emotional norms” (which refer to the
norms that trigger emotional responses). Empirically, the special issue
illustrates the different ways in which emotion(al) norms are used
at different levels of EUropean foreign policy, i.e. EU, state and
subnational levels. The collection of articles aspires to study the
ways in which emotions shape the EU’s external relations
focusing on the actors (who mobilize emotions, who are
constrained or contested by emotion(al) norms), processes
(through which various feelings are produced internally or
transmitted externally) and the content of norms linked to
emotions. Methodologically, this special issue illustrates how
emotion(al) norms can be studied through the use of different
discourse methods.
Emotions in parliamentary diplomacy: debating the Armenian genocide in the European Parliament, 2021
ABSTRACT Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this ques... more ABSTRACT
Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this question, the article, first, maps the legitimizing arguments put forward by the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in promoting an emotionally loaded norm vis-à-vis Turkey, i.e., the recognition of the Armenian genocide. Second, the paper explores the reasons behind the promotion of this emotional norm by the European Parliament (EP) as justified by the MEPs. The article theoretically draws on the IR literature on emotions, and empirically, it relies on the data generated from the interventions by the MEPs at the plenary on the centenary of the Armenian genocide on 15 April 2015. Through claims analysis, it is demonstrated that the condemnation of genocide is a shared norm within the EP, which transcends national and ideological differences. Consequently, the MEPs aspire to render it an essential constitutive element of the emotional community at the EU level.
Theorising the Crises of the European Union, 2021
Since the mid-1990s, a rich Europeanization research agenda has been developed to understand and ... more Since the mid-1990s, a rich Europeanization research agenda has been developed to understand and analyse the impact of the EU on domestic politics. This literature expanded the analytical toolkit of European studies researchers to analyse the causal mechanisms intervening between the EU and domestic levels. Yet, much of the research on Europeanization has fallen short in explaining the recent form of rapid autocratization and norm contestation in some member states (e.g. Hungary, Poland) and candidate countries (e.g. Serbia, Turkey). This is mainly because the (de-)Europeanization literature starts with the assumption that the EU is the main factor that induces change in a domestic context. Therefore, it rests primarily on top–down accounts of the EU’s impact without an in-depth analysis of a recipient-driven Europeanization. In light of recent political events, this chapter shifts attention from top–down Europeanization to the domestic level and studies how the agents of autocratization drive the (de-)Europeanization process.
Understanding and Explaining the European Union in a crisis context: Concluding reflections, 2021
The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addre... more The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addressed in the book. First, in light of the findings of individual chapters, it seeks to answer whether classical integration theories and more recent approaches to European integration are effective or not at explaining and understanding the decade of crises of the European Union (EU) and whether they need to be revised (and if so, how). The main theoretical, empirical, and methodological findings of the volume are discussed in this chapter. Second, drawing on all the chapters in this volume, the conclusion discusses why the past decade was exceptional for the EU and how the successive waves of crises point to a more profound crisis of the integration process. The concluding section then concentrates on the most recent crisis to hit the EU, namely, the Coronavirus pandemic and seeks to explain the EU’s initial reaction to this health crisis by revisiting the theories that were explored in this volume.
European integration (theories) in crisis?, 2021
This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More... more This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More specifically, it examines whether the decade of crisis was exceptional or whether crisis is a permanent feature of the integration process. It then brings a conceptual clarification to the concept of crisis by defining what the crisis means in this book, what key features characterize the crises of the integration process, and by discussing the meaning of crisis in relation with similar concepts such as disintegration. It also explains how the main integration theories grasp the concept of crisis and how they have been used to explain the crises the EU has recently faced. Finally, it presents the different contributions of the book.
ACTA POLITICA, 2021
The aim of this article is to understand why the EU opted to conclude the ‘EU–Turkey refugee deal... more The aim of this article is to understand why the EU opted to conclude the ‘EU–Turkey refugee deal’ in March 2016 in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis, despite the fact that the agreement deeply contradicts fundamental EU values and norms. The article seeks to explain the outcome—the conclusion of the EU–Turkey refugee deal—by analysing not only the ability of EU institutions to shape decisions, but also their motivations, ideas and preferences in justifying the EU’s actions in responding to the refugee challenge. It is argued that the deal results from ideational and power struggles between supranational (the European Parliament and the European Commission) and intergovernmental institutions (the European Council and the Council of the European Union). It is demonstrated that while the former put forward normative arguments, the latter invoked security as a main concern to avoid internal divisions between Member States. This article also reveals that such ideational and power struggles have consequences for the EU’s identity. Theoretically, the article builds on the new intergovernmentalist claims and on the normative/ civilian power literature. Empirically, it explores the usage of normative justifications by EU institutions and points to inter-institutional tensions in framing the EU’s response to the refugee challenge.
Contesting the EU, Contesting Democracy and Rule of Law in Europe. Conceptual Suggestions for Future Research, 2020
In ECE countries, democratisation and Europeanisation seemed to exist in a mutually reinforcing r... more In ECE countries, democratisation and Europeanisation seemed to exist in a mutually reinforcing relationship and both concepts provided the main analytical lenses for studying these states. In the light of recent illiberal and anti-EU politics, two different concepts have started to receive increasing scholarly attention, namely the concepts of de-Europeanisation and autocratisation. Their exact meaning, however, remains unclear and the causal link between these specific processes and the rule of law has largely remained understudied. Against this backdrop, this chapter first summarises the state-of-the-art research on autocratisation and de-Europeanisation, and then examines the interaction and causal link between these two phenomena in times of declining democracies in Europe and rule of law problems.
Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 2018
This article analyzes the role of the European Parliament (EP) in Turkey–EU relations. More speci... more This article analyzes the role of the European Parliament (EP) in Turkey–EU relations. More specifically, it explores the reasons why in practice EP’s role in promoting fundamental values of the European Union (EU) in Turkey remained largely limited. Drawing on the broader socialization literature, it concludes that a combination of factors related to the socializer (EP) and to the socializee (Turkey) limits the EP’s effectiveness to emerge as a normative actor in its relations with Turkey. In particular, the study points to the mismatch of values promoted by the EP and those embraced by the Turkish political elite as the real obstacle that prevents any socialization mechanism from being triggered.
La solidarité européenne: enjeux et perspectives, 2019
In Parliamentary Cooperation and Diplomacy in EU External Relations, K. Raube, M. Muftuler-Bac and J. Wouters , 2019
The chapter analyses the role of the European Parliament (EP) in the enlargement process of the E... more The chapter analyses the role of the European Parliament (EP) in the enlargement process of the European Union (EU). It has three objectives: first, the chapter shows that, in addition to its formal role, the EP has an informal yet potentially crucial normative role in the enlargement process. Second, it offers an analytical framework for studying the EP’s normative actorness in engaging the political elite of third states in communicative processes. Third, it evaluates this analytical framework in light of the empirical evidence from inter-parliamentary relations with Turkey, with a special focus on Joint Parliamentary Committee meetings over the course of two legislative terms of the EP – the seventh (2009–14) and eighth (2014–18). The chapter concludes that the EP’s normative role in EU–Turkey relations remains largely limited when the EP aspires to promote new, politically controversial conditions that go beyond the Copenhagen political criteria.
Research Methods in the Social Scineces , J. F. Morin, C. Olsson, E. O. Atikcan, 2020
Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive yet compact A-Z for undergraduate and ... more Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive yet compact A-Z for undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking research across the social sciences, featuring 71 entries that cover a wide range of concepts, methods, and theories.
Each entry begins with an accessible introduction to a method, using real-world examples from a wide range of academic disciplines, before discussing the benefits and limitations of the approach, its current status in academic practice, and finally providing tips and advice for readers on when and how to apply the method in their own research. Wide ranging and interdisciplinary, the text covers both well-established concepts and emerging ideas, such as big data and network analysis, for qualitative and quantitative research methods.
All entries feature extensive cross-referencing, providing ease of navigation and, pointing readers to related concepts, and to help build their overall understanding of research methods.
Reports by Seda Gürkan
Bertelsmann Stiftung, BTI 2022 Country Report — Turkey. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2022., 2022
Pop. growth 1 % p.a. 1.1 HDI rank of 189 54 Gini Index 41.9 Life expectancy years 77.7 UN Educati... more Pop. growth 1 % p.a. 1.1 HDI rank of 189 54 Gini Index 41.9 Life expectancy years 77.7 UN Education Index 0.731 Poverty 3 % 2.2 Urban population % 76.1 Gender inequality 2 0.306 Aid per capita $ 9.9
EU-Turkey Relations at a Critical Juncture The Assessment of the 2020 European Commission Report on Turkey & A Guide for a Persuasive Engagement, 2020
Since 2016, the fundamental nature of EU-Turkey relations has radically changed. Neither is the E... more Since 2016, the fundamental nature of EU-Turkey relations has radically changed. Neither is the EU in a position to offer Turkey a credible membership perspective, nor is the Turkish ruling elite ideologically committed to the membership ideal any longer. In addition to this, the EU has fallen short of offering an up-to-date engagement framework with Turkey encompassing these new realities in relations. Consequently, while EU-Turkey relations have suffered from a dysfunctional conditionality policy, EU’s leverage over Turkey has faded away. Against this backdrop, the paper aims to critically analyze how the Commission Report fits into this turbulent context in terms of content, language and narrative, and whether it fully grasps the main developments in Turkey/EU-Turkey relations. Second, in view of the upcoming European Parliament (EP) Resolution on the 2020 Commission Report, the paper seeks to offer policy-oriented recommendations to overcome the current impasse in EU-Turkey relations. The paper makes the case for a dual strategy vis-à-vis Turkey, which would encompass both the membership framework (strict conditionality policy within the framework of the Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union) and a flexible persuasive engagement agenda.
Opinion pieces by Seda Gürkan
EU foreign policy is often viewed as a rational and technocratic exercise, but do emotions also p... more EU foreign policy is often viewed as a rational and technocratic exercise, but do emotions also play a role in shaping foreign policy outcomes? Drawing on a new special issue, Seda Gürkan and Özlem Terzi explain why emotions should be a central focus in EU foreign policy research.
N No ot t t to oo o c cl lo os se e b bu ut t n no ot t t to oo o f fa ar r a aw wa ay y: : T Th ... more N No ot t t to oo o c cl lo os se e b bu ut t n no ot t t to oo o f fa ar r a aw wa ay y: : T Th he e E EU U' 's s r re el la at ti io on ns s w wi it th h t th he e n ne ew w T Tu ur rk ke ey y
Speaking loudly but carrying a small stick: is the EU powerless against Erdogan?, 2019
The European Union’s stance on Turkey’s military incursion in Northern Syria is one of the rare i... more The European Union’s stance on Turkey’s military incursion in Northern Syria is one of the rare instances in which the EU spoke loudly and with a single voice. While the EU publicly condemned Turkey’s operations in northern Syria, its discourse has not been backed by concrete action nor a persuasive engagement with Turkey.Although the EU has stated that Turkey’s military offensive and subsequent developments threaten its vital security interests, why was Brussels a marginal actor during the crisis?
Real Instituto Elcano Expert Comment, 2020
Theorizing the Crises of the EU, 2021
This book examines the relevance of integration theories for studying and analsing the crisis sit... more This book examines the relevance of integration theories for studying and analsing the crisis situations faced by the EU since 2009. Ten years on from the start of the ‘age of crisis’, it critically analyses the impact of the multiple crises’ context on the EU polity and questions the utility of integration theories for grasping the peculiarities of the particular crisis under study. Bringing together prominent scholars in EU studies, the volume constitutes an essential reference book on integration theories. Its contribution is twofold. First, it provides a comparative overview of classical integration theories for studying and analysing current crisis situations the EU faces. Second, the book connects theories to current debates through an in-depth discussion of recent crises that hit European integration since 2009, with a particular focus on the financial crisis, Brexit, refugee crisis, illiberal tendencies in some member states, and the Coronavirus pandemic. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European integration, European Union politics, political theory, and, more broadly, to European studies.
Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this question, the ... more Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this question, the article, first, maps the legitimizing arguments put forward by the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in promoting an emotionally loaded norm vis-à-vis Turkey, i.e., the recognition of the Armenian genocide. Second, the paper explores the reasons behind the promotion of this emotional norm by the European Parliament (EP) as justified by the MEPs. The article theoretically draws on the IR literature on emotions, and empirically, it relies on the data generated from the interventions by the MEPs at the plenary on the centenary of the Armenian genocide on 15 April 2015. Through claims analysis, it is demonstrated that the condemnation of genocide is a shared norm within the EP, which transcends national and ideological differences. Consequently, the MEPs aspire to render it an essential constitutive element of the emotional community at the EU level.
Introduction: emotion(al) norms in EUropean foreign policy, 2021
This special issue examines the nexus between emotions and norms in EUropean foreign policy. Theo... more This special issue examines the nexus between emotions and
norms in EUropean foreign policy. Theoretically, building on the
existing IR-literature on emotions, the Special Issue distinguishes
between “emotion norms” (which refer to the appropriate
emotional expressions) and “emotional norms” (which refer to the
norms that trigger emotional responses). Empirically, the special issue
illustrates the different ways in which emotion(al) norms are used
at different levels of EUropean foreign policy, i.e. EU, state and
subnational levels. The collection of articles aspires to study the
ways in which emotions shape the EU’s external relations
focusing on the actors (who mobilize emotions, who are
constrained or contested by emotion(al) norms), processes
(through which various feelings are produced internally or
transmitted externally) and the content of norms linked to
emotions. Methodologically, this special issue illustrates how
emotion(al) norms can be studied through the use of different
discourse methods.
Emotions in parliamentary diplomacy: debating the Armenian genocide in the European Parliament, 2021
ABSTRACT Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this ques... more ABSTRACT
Why do international institutions promote emotional norms? In order to answer this question, the article, first, maps the legitimizing arguments put forward by the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in promoting an emotionally loaded norm vis-à-vis Turkey, i.e., the recognition of the Armenian genocide. Second, the paper explores the reasons behind the promotion of this emotional norm by the European Parliament (EP) as justified by the MEPs. The article theoretically draws on the IR literature on emotions, and empirically, it relies on the data generated from the interventions by the MEPs at the plenary on the centenary of the Armenian genocide on 15 April 2015. Through claims analysis, it is demonstrated that the condemnation of genocide is a shared norm within the EP, which transcends national and ideological differences. Consequently, the MEPs aspire to render it an essential constitutive element of the emotional community at the EU level.
Theorising the Crises of the European Union, 2021
Since the mid-1990s, a rich Europeanization research agenda has been developed to understand and ... more Since the mid-1990s, a rich Europeanization research agenda has been developed to understand and analyse the impact of the EU on domestic politics. This literature expanded the analytical toolkit of European studies researchers to analyse the causal mechanisms intervening between the EU and domestic levels. Yet, much of the research on Europeanization has fallen short in explaining the recent form of rapid autocratization and norm contestation in some member states (e.g. Hungary, Poland) and candidate countries (e.g. Serbia, Turkey). This is mainly because the (de-)Europeanization literature starts with the assumption that the EU is the main factor that induces change in a domestic context. Therefore, it rests primarily on top–down accounts of the EU’s impact without an in-depth analysis of a recipient-driven Europeanization. In light of recent political events, this chapter shifts attention from top–down Europeanization to the domestic level and studies how the agents of autocratization drive the (de-)Europeanization process.
Understanding and Explaining the European Union in a crisis context: Concluding reflections, 2021
The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addre... more The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addressed in the book. First, in light of the findings of individual chapters, it seeks to answer whether classical integration theories and more recent approaches to European integration are effective or not at explaining and understanding the decade of crises of the European Union (EU) and whether they need to be revised (and if so, how). The main theoretical, empirical, and methodological findings of the volume are discussed in this chapter. Second, drawing on all the chapters in this volume, the conclusion discusses why the past decade was exceptional for the EU and how the successive waves of crises point to a more profound crisis of the integration process. The concluding section then concentrates on the most recent crisis to hit the EU, namely, the Coronavirus pandemic and seeks to explain the EU’s initial reaction to this health crisis by revisiting the theories that were explored in this volume.
European integration (theories) in crisis?, 2021
This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More... more This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More specifically, it examines whether the decade of crisis was exceptional or whether crisis is a permanent feature of the integration process. It then brings a conceptual clarification to the concept of crisis by defining what the crisis means in this book, what key features characterize the crises of the integration process, and by discussing the meaning of crisis in relation with similar concepts such as disintegration. It also explains how the main integration theories grasp the concept of crisis and how they have been used to explain the crises the EU has recently faced. Finally, it presents the different contributions of the book.
ACTA POLITICA, 2021
The aim of this article is to understand why the EU opted to conclude the ‘EU–Turkey refugee deal... more The aim of this article is to understand why the EU opted to conclude the ‘EU–Turkey refugee deal’ in March 2016 in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis, despite the fact that the agreement deeply contradicts fundamental EU values and norms. The article seeks to explain the outcome—the conclusion of the EU–Turkey refugee deal—by analysing not only the ability of EU institutions to shape decisions, but also their motivations, ideas and preferences in justifying the EU’s actions in responding to the refugee challenge. It is argued that the deal results from ideational and power struggles between supranational (the European Parliament and the European Commission) and intergovernmental institutions (the European Council and the Council of the European Union). It is demonstrated that while the former put forward normative arguments, the latter invoked security as a main concern to avoid internal divisions between Member States. This article also reveals that such ideational and power struggles have consequences for the EU’s identity. Theoretically, the article builds on the new intergovernmentalist claims and on the normative/ civilian power literature. Empirically, it explores the usage of normative justifications by EU institutions and points to inter-institutional tensions in framing the EU’s response to the refugee challenge.
Contesting the EU, Contesting Democracy and Rule of Law in Europe. Conceptual Suggestions for Future Research, 2020
In ECE countries, democratisation and Europeanisation seemed to exist in a mutually reinforcing r... more In ECE countries, democratisation and Europeanisation seemed to exist in a mutually reinforcing relationship and both concepts provided the main analytical lenses for studying these states. In the light of recent illiberal and anti-EU politics, two different concepts have started to receive increasing scholarly attention, namely the concepts of de-Europeanisation and autocratisation. Their exact meaning, however, remains unclear and the causal link between these specific processes and the rule of law has largely remained understudied. Against this backdrop, this chapter first summarises the state-of-the-art research on autocratisation and de-Europeanisation, and then examines the interaction and causal link between these two phenomena in times of declining democracies in Europe and rule of law problems.
Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 2018
This article analyzes the role of the European Parliament (EP) in Turkey–EU relations. More speci... more This article analyzes the role of the European Parliament (EP) in Turkey–EU relations. More specifically, it explores the reasons why in practice EP’s role in promoting fundamental values of the European Union (EU) in Turkey remained largely limited. Drawing on the broader socialization literature, it concludes that a combination of factors related to the socializer (EP) and to the socializee (Turkey) limits the EP’s effectiveness to emerge as a normative actor in its relations with Turkey. In particular, the study points to the mismatch of values promoted by the EP and those embraced by the Turkish political elite as the real obstacle that prevents any socialization mechanism from being triggered.
La solidarité européenne: enjeux et perspectives, 2019
In Parliamentary Cooperation and Diplomacy in EU External Relations, K. Raube, M. Muftuler-Bac and J. Wouters , 2019
The chapter analyses the role of the European Parliament (EP) in the enlargement process of the E... more The chapter analyses the role of the European Parliament (EP) in the enlargement process of the European Union (EU). It has three objectives: first, the chapter shows that, in addition to its formal role, the EP has an informal yet potentially crucial normative role in the enlargement process. Second, it offers an analytical framework for studying the EP’s normative actorness in engaging the political elite of third states in communicative processes. Third, it evaluates this analytical framework in light of the empirical evidence from inter-parliamentary relations with Turkey, with a special focus on Joint Parliamentary Committee meetings over the course of two legislative terms of the EP – the seventh (2009–14) and eighth (2014–18). The chapter concludes that the EP’s normative role in EU–Turkey relations remains largely limited when the EP aspires to promote new, politically controversial conditions that go beyond the Copenhagen political criteria.
Research Methods in the Social Scineces , J. F. Morin, C. Olsson, E. O. Atikcan, 2020
Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive yet compact A-Z for undergraduate and ... more Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive yet compact A-Z for undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking research across the social sciences, featuring 71 entries that cover a wide range of concepts, methods, and theories.
Each entry begins with an accessible introduction to a method, using real-world examples from a wide range of academic disciplines, before discussing the benefits and limitations of the approach, its current status in academic practice, and finally providing tips and advice for readers on when and how to apply the method in their own research. Wide ranging and interdisciplinary, the text covers both well-established concepts and emerging ideas, such as big data and network analysis, for qualitative and quantitative research methods.
All entries feature extensive cross-referencing, providing ease of navigation and, pointing readers to related concepts, and to help build their overall understanding of research methods.
Bertelsmann Stiftung, BTI 2022 Country Report — Turkey. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2022., 2022
Pop. growth 1 % p.a. 1.1 HDI rank of 189 54 Gini Index 41.9 Life expectancy years 77.7 UN Educati... more Pop. growth 1 % p.a. 1.1 HDI rank of 189 54 Gini Index 41.9 Life expectancy years 77.7 UN Education Index 0.731 Poverty 3 % 2.2 Urban population % 76.1 Gender inequality 2 0.306 Aid per capita $ 9.9
EU-Turkey Relations at a Critical Juncture The Assessment of the 2020 European Commission Report on Turkey & A Guide for a Persuasive Engagement, 2020
Since 2016, the fundamental nature of EU-Turkey relations has radically changed. Neither is the E... more Since 2016, the fundamental nature of EU-Turkey relations has radically changed. Neither is the EU in a position to offer Turkey a credible membership perspective, nor is the Turkish ruling elite ideologically committed to the membership ideal any longer. In addition to this, the EU has fallen short of offering an up-to-date engagement framework with Turkey encompassing these new realities in relations. Consequently, while EU-Turkey relations have suffered from a dysfunctional conditionality policy, EU’s leverage over Turkey has faded away. Against this backdrop, the paper aims to critically analyze how the Commission Report fits into this turbulent context in terms of content, language and narrative, and whether it fully grasps the main developments in Turkey/EU-Turkey relations. Second, in view of the upcoming European Parliament (EP) Resolution on the 2020 Commission Report, the paper seeks to offer policy-oriented recommendations to overcome the current impasse in EU-Turkey relations. The paper makes the case for a dual strategy vis-à-vis Turkey, which would encompass both the membership framework (strict conditionality policy within the framework of the Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union) and a flexible persuasive engagement agenda.
EU foreign policy is often viewed as a rational and technocratic exercise, but do emotions also p... more EU foreign policy is often viewed as a rational and technocratic exercise, but do emotions also play a role in shaping foreign policy outcomes? Drawing on a new special issue, Seda Gürkan and Özlem Terzi explain why emotions should be a central focus in EU foreign policy research.
N No ot t t to oo o c cl lo os se e b bu ut t n no ot t t to oo o f fa ar r a aw wa ay y: : T Th ... more N No ot t t to oo o c cl lo os se e b bu ut t n no ot t t to oo o f fa ar r a aw wa ay y: : T Th he e E EU U' 's s r re el la at ti io on ns s w wi it th h t th he e n ne ew w T Tu ur rk ke ey y
Speaking loudly but carrying a small stick: is the EU powerless against Erdogan?, 2019
The European Union’s stance on Turkey’s military incursion in Northern Syria is one of the rare i... more The European Union’s stance on Turkey’s military incursion in Northern Syria is one of the rare instances in which the EU spoke loudly and with a single voice. While the EU publicly condemned Turkey’s operations in northern Syria, its discourse has not been backed by concrete action nor a persuasive engagement with Turkey.Although the EU has stated that Turkey’s military offensive and subsequent developments threaten its vital security interests, why was Brussels a marginal actor during the crisis?
Real Instituto Elcano Expert Comment, 2020
the 49th UACES Annual Conference, 2019
the 49th UACES Annual Conference, 2019
26th International Conference of Europeanists (CES), 2019
The European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 2019
The European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 2019
the research workshop on European integration theories at ULB, 2019
the research workshop on European integration theories at ULB, 2019
the Conference L’union européenne et la paix: quelles avancées vers une fédération européenne, 2018
[Normative Power Europe Meets Turkey]
the International conference The autocratic challenge, organized by ULB, 2018
the Conference, Standing Group on the EU, European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 2018
the Conference, Standing Group on the EU, European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 2018
the Conference, European Union in International Affairs VI (EUIA18), 2018
the Conference, European Union in International Affairs VI (EUIA18), 2018
the international workshop, Solidarities in Europe, University of Bern, 2017
the General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 2017
the General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 2017
the first European Union in European Affairs Conference, co-organised by IEE-ULB and IES VUB, 2017
the AHRI Conference, The Promotion and Enforcement of Human Rights by International and Regional Organization, Leuven Center for Global Governance Studies, 2017
the Conference on The European Union and Turkey Cooperation in Times of Crisis, 2017
the 4th Midterm Conference of the European Sociological Association (ESA), 2016
Brack, N., Gürkan, S., Theorising the Crises of the European Union, 2021
This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More... more This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More specifically, it examines whether the decade of crisis was exceptional or whether crisis is a permanent feature of the integration process. It then brings a conceptual clarification to the concept of crisis by defining what the crisis means in this book, what key features characterize the crises of the integration process, and by discussing the meaning of crisis in relation with similar concepts such as disintegration. It also explains how the main integration theories grasp the concept of crisis and how they have been used to explain the crises the EU has recently faced. Finally, it presents the different contributions of the book.
Brack, N., Gürkan, S., Theorising the Crises of the European Union, 2021
The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addre... more The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addressed in the book. First, in light of the findings of individual chapters, it seeks to answer whether classical integration theories and more recent approaches to European integration are effective or not at explaining and understanding the decade of crises of the European Union (EU) and whether they need to be revised (and if so, how). The main theoretical, empirical, and methodological findings of the volume are discussed in this chapter. Second, drawing on all the chapters in this volume, the conclusion discusses why the past decade was exceptional for the EU and how the successive waves of crises point to a more profound crisis of the integration process. The concluding section then concentrates on the most recent crisis to hit the EU, namely, the Coronavirus pandemic and seeks to explain the EU’s initial reaction to this health crisis by revisiting the theories that were explored in this volume.
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
The dissertation is about the impact of the European Union (EU) on the foreign policy of a candid... more The dissertation is about the impact of the European Union (EU) on the foreign policy of a candidate in the pre-accession period. More specifically, the research analyses the factors and processes that intervene between the EU power to generate change in Turkish foreign policy and Turkish national compliance with the EU conditions between 1997 and 2005 by way of analysing three cases: Turkish foreign policy towards Cyprus issue, Greek-Turkish bilateral problems in the Aegean Sea; and Turkey’s stance vis-à-vis the launch of the ESDP. Main question the research addresses is “why does a candidate choose to comply (or fail to comply) with the EU conditions in foreign policy?” In other words: “How (through what mechanisms) does the EU generate compliance with the EU conditions in foreign policy?” The dissertation approaches these questions through the perspective of the Europeanization literature and its conditionality school drawing on the Rational Choice Institutionalism. In accordance...
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
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Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics, 2020
In ECE countries, democratisation and Europeanisation seemed to exist in a mutually reinforcing r... more In ECE countries, democratisation and Europeanisation seemed to exist in a mutually reinforcing relationship and both concepts provided the main analytical lenses for studying these states. In the light of recent illiberal and anti-EU politics, two different concepts have started to receive increasing scholarly attention, namely the concepts of de-Europeanisation and autocratisation. Their exact meaning, however, remains unclear and the causal link between these specific processes and the rule of law has largely remained understudied. Against this backdrop, this chapter first summarises the state-of-the-art research on autocratisation and de-Europeanisation, and then examines the interaction and causal link between these two phenomena in times of declining democracies in Europe and rule of law problems.
Since the mid-1990s, a rich Europeanization research agenda has been developed to understand and ... more Since the mid-1990s, a rich Europeanization research agenda has been developed to understand and analyse the impact of the EU on domestic politics. This literature expanded the analytical toolkit of European studies researchers to analyse the causal mechanisms intervening between the EU and domestic levels. Yet, much of the research on Europeanization has fallen short in explaining the recent form of rapid autocratization and norm contestation in some member states (e.g. Hungary, Poland) and candidate countries (e.g. Serbia, Turkey). This is mainly because the (de-)Europeanization literature starts with the assumption that the EU is the main factor that induces change in a domestic context. Therefore, it rests primarily on top–down accounts of the EU’s impact without an in-depth analysis of a recipient-driven Europeanization. In light of recent political events, this chapter shifts attention from top–down Europeanization to the domestic level and studies how the agents of autocratization drive the (de-)Europeanization process.
The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addre... more The conclusion summarizes the findings of this edited volume and answers two main questions addressed in the book. First, in light of the findings of individual chapters, it seeks to answer whether classical integration theories and more recent approaches to European integration are effective or not at explaining and understanding the decade of crises of the European Union (EU) and whether they need to be revised (and if so, how). The main theoretical, empirical, and methodological findings of the volume are discussed in this chapter. Second, drawing on all the chapters in this volume, the conclusion discusses why the past decade was exceptional for the EU and how the successive waves of crises point to a more profound crisis of the integration process. The concluding section then concentrates on the most recent crisis to hit the EU, namely, the Coronavirus pandemic and seeks to explain the EU’s initial reaction to this health crisis by revisiting the theories that were explored in this volume.
This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More... more This introductory chapter summarises the aims, scope and rationale behind the edited volume. More specifically, it examines whether the decade of crisis was exceptional or whether crisis is a permanent feature of the integration process. It then brings a conceptual clarification to the concept of crisis by defining what the crisis means in this book, what key features characterize the crises of the integration process, and by discussing the meaning of crisis in relation with similar concepts such as disintegration. It also explains how the main integration theories grasp the concept of crisis and how they have been used to explain the crises the EU has recently faced. Finally, it presents the different contributions of the book.
Parliamentary Cooperation and Diplomacy in EU External Relations, 2019
The chapter analyses the role of the European Parliament (EP) in the enlargement process of the E... more The chapter analyses the role of the European Parliament (EP) in the enlargement process of the European Union (EU). It has three objectives: first, the chapter shows that, in addition to its formal role, the EP has an informal yet potentially crucial normative role in the enlargement process. Second, it offers an analytical framework for studying the EP’s normative actorness in engaging the political elite of third states in communicative processes. Third, it evaluates this analytical framework in light of the empirical evidence from inter-parliamentary relations with Turkey, with a special focus on Joint Parliamentary Committee meetings over the course of two legislative terms of the EP – the seventh (2009–14) and eighth (2014–18). The chapter concludes that the EP’s normative role in EU–Turkey relations remains largely limited when the EP aspires to promote new, politically controversial conditions that go beyond the Copenhagen political criteria.
Global Affairs, 2021
In recent years, NCAP regulations of many countries have induced automaker to improve the vehicle... more In recent years, NCAP regulations of many countries have induced automaker to improve the vehicle crashworthiness. But, the current NCAP regulations don't cover all types of traffic accidents. And rapidincreasing market share of compact cars and SUVs has brought for both consumer and automaker to pay more attention on crash compatibility. So, many countries have tried to develop the new crash test mode and update the present crash test mode. Especially, Euro NCAP has been developing a new impact protocol of the car-to-car frontal offset impact including the crash compatibility assessment. There are plans to introduce this new protocol in 2020, and it will be replaced the current Euro NCAP frontal offset impact. The test dummy in the front seats of this new test mode will be changed from 50% Hybrid-III male to 50% THOR male. This paper will address the vehicle responses, the occupant responses and the vehicle compatibility performance from a full vehicle crash test using the new car-to-car frontal offset test protocol of Euro NCAP.
Research Methods in the Social Sciences: An A-Z of key concepts, 2021
This chapter illustrates process-tracing (PT), which is a qualitative within-case data analysis t... more This chapter illustrates process-tracing (PT), which is a qualitative within-case data analysis technique used to identify causal relations. Although there are several distinct definitions of the PT method, scholars largely agree that the process-tracing method attempts to identify the intervening causal process (or the causal chain or causal mechanism) between an independent variable and the dependent variable. The PT method can be used for theory testing and theory-building. When it is applied to theory testing, a hypothetical causal mechanism is tested against empirical evidence. The research goal is to test whether a theorized mechanism is present in a given case, or whether the mechanism functions as expected in the selected case. When tracing is applied to theory-building, the goal is to identify causal processes for which there is no available prior theoretical hypothesis in the literature. Here, the aim of the research is to develop theory.
