AB VE TÜRKİYE’NIN BATI BALKAN POLİTİKALARININ BİR DEĞERLENDİRMESİ: ELEŞTİREL BİR BAKIŞ VE GELECEKTEKİ İŞBİRLİĞİNE DAİR BEKLENTİLER

Bir yumuşak güç olan AB, başta Batı Balkanlar olmak üzere uluslararası alanda etkinliğini kısıtlayıcı birçok problemle karşı karşıyadır. Bu gölgede yumuşak gücünün dönüştürücülüğü azımsanmayacak ölçüde azalmıştır. Bu makale AB’nin yakın çevresinde ve özellikle de Batı Balkanlar’da uyguladığı yumuşak güç politikalarının önündeki problemler tartışılacak ve Birliğin etkinliğini sürdürebilmesi ve bu etkinliğe yeni boyutlar katabilmesinin muhtemel yolları tartışılacaktır. Makalenin araştırma sorusu AB’nin acil olarak yüzleşmek zorunda olduğu konuların neler olduğudur. AB mekanizmalarının Birliğin yakın çevresinde istikrarı, demokrasiyi ve barışı arttırmakta başarılı olamadığı düşünüldüğünde, alternatiflerin dikkate alınması gerektiği bir gerçektir. Bu şekilde düşünüldüğünde Türkiye on yıl önceki performansıyla Batı Balkanlarda etkili olabildiğini göstermştir. Fakat ekonomik olarak zayıflayan günümüz Türkiyesi on yıl önce olduğu gibi bölge üzerinde egemenlik kurmak değil sadece bölge devletleriyle ilişkilerini güçlendirmek istemektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Batı Balkanlar, Avrupa Birliği, Türkiye, Şartlılık, Ortak Güvenlik ve Savunma Politikası

AN ASSESSMENT OF EU’S AND TURKEY’S WESTERN BALKAN POLICIES: A CRITIQUE AND PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE COOPERATION

The EU, which is commonly referred as a soft power, is facing various challenges that limit its effectiveness in the international scene, most importantly in the Western Balkans. The transformative capacity of its soft power is not properly utilized in this region. This article explores the challenges to the EU’s soft power and evaluates possible ways for the Union to maintain its effectiveness adding new dimensions to its foreign policy in the area–specifically in the Western Balkans region. The primary issue addressed by this article deals with the immediate changes facing the EU as a soft power today. Given the fact that political mechanisms that EU has utilized have proved to be ineffective in promoting stability, democracy peace in its area, alternatives should be considered. Meanwhile, a decade ago Turkey has proven its capacity to influence Western Balkan countries by creating and consolidating its soft power through various ways. However under the most present circumstances an economically weak Turkey is nothing but an actor which attempts to strengthen its relationship with Western Balkans countries

Keywords:

Western Balkans, European Union, Turkey, Conditionality, Common Security and Defense Policy,

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