December 14, 2006
WHAT DOES EUROPE HAVE TO DO WITH CHRISTENDOM?:
Slamming the door in Turkey's face (Stephen Kinzer, December 14, 2006, Boston Globe)
By slamming the door in Turkey's face, the EU will proclaim that there is a fundamental chasm separating East and West, and that true cooperation between Europe and the Islamic world is, at least for now, impossible.For the last few years, Turkey has been engaged in a process of near-revolutionary change. It is today a far more open and democratic country than it has ever been. The main reason Turkey has moved in this direction is the prospect of EU membership. If that prospect disappears, the reform process may slow down or stop.
Some senior commanders in the Turkish Army, which would lose most of its political power if Turkey joined the EU, will cheer this breakup. So will religious fundamentalists, who have always rejected the view that Turkey is essentially European.
These two groups have worked uneasily together under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan , who comes from a religious background and symbolizes Turkey's effort to blend Islam with modernity. Now they will return to their traditional hostility, perhaps in ways that could threaten the country's hard-won political stability.
The EU's rejection of Turkey will lead many Muslims to conclude that if Europe has no place for the world's most democratic and secular Muslim country, it cannot be serious about bridging the gap between Islam and Christianity. That will strengthen the hand of those who preach "identity politics," which holds that religious and cultural differences among groups of nations are immutable.
This decision also bodes ill for Europe itself. A decade from now, Turkey will have a young, vibrant, and well-educated population, open to innovation and eager to work for moderate wages. Europe, by contrast, will be old and encrusted, with no one to pay the pensions of its graying population.
So why bother with Europe? Just join into an equivalent arrangement with the US. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 14, 2006 12:53 PM
. . .true cooperation between Europe and the Islamic world is, at least for now, impossible.
I dunno. The French seem to be able to cooperate with Islamists just fine.
Posted by: Mike Morley at December 14, 2006 1:04 PM"Turkey will have a young, vibrant, and well-educated population, open to innovation and eager to work for moderate wages. Europe, by contrast, will be old and encrusted, with no one to pay the pensions of its graying population."
So Kinzer expects the young Turks to work their butts off on moderate wages to pay the pensions of Europe's graying population? Not in his life. As soon as the Turks are able to, they will change the welfare law. The graying Euros better save their doughs for old age, than subsidize the poor immigrants and expect them to support them in the future. As long as there is no welfare for young immigrants, those who cannot find jobs will not stay draining the welfare system. The native population can save their own money for their own old age.
Posted by: ic at December 14, 2006 2:45 PMBtw, I don't mean the Turks are immigrants after Turkey joined the EU, I mean all young people who immigrate to Europe and receive hand-outs.
Posted by: ic at December 14, 2006 2:50 PM"Turkey will have a young, vibrant, and well-educated population, open to innovation and eager to work for moderate wages."
Oh how fine for EU but Turkey ? Europe would pull in all well educated ppl of Turkey and left dumbs, illetrates in Turkey which would drive Turkey to a worst state.
Posted by: Emrah at December 14, 2006 4:41 PM