Political Science

In its bid of transformation, the former Ottoman Empire that constitutes the modern state of Turkey has undergone various modernization stages so as to read from the same script as its encapsulating unions. Ideally transformation is not a new concept to Turkey as it has seen three levels of modernization processes that attempt to redefine the state. These have been the Ottoman, Kemalist and the current Europeanization through integration in the European Union (Husamettin 2004). It is custom of the stage for all transformation processes to derive factors that either enhance or aggravate the process significantly. This factors range from political, historical, economic, anthropological as well as geographical. This case study attempts to define and assess Turkeys current bid for inclusion in the European Union under the lens of this factors. The double facets of nature rendering concepts with both progressive as well as retrogressive faces will enable the study to scrutinize Turkeys bid from the perspective of the above factors bearing in mind the divergent trajectories that meditate against as well as for the Turkish state. 

Political Dimension   
Politics is often viewed as the exercise of power over a compact majority. Political equations in Turkey are ideally constructed under the backdrop of social values that are adhered to by the wooed supporters. As such the sociological concepts that are unilaterally embraced by the target supporters are the basis upon which the respective party manifesto is drawn. As such the leadership and membership of this parties toe the party line. The party manifestos orient themselves around the sociological roots of their supporters. In this regard parties such as the Republican People Party (CHP) ideally define themselves as social democrats. As such their party ideology is primarily Marxist and Socialist furthering the element of the people as the most critical aspect of society. As such, this political aspect renders the party in support of sociological elements that further the policy of the welfare state. This socialist party policy pits Turkey against Europe that is opposed to socialism viewing it under the lens of communism. The conservatives in continuance of the trend set by the socialist, though somehow divergent in ideology with regard to policy framework, intends to realize a holistic culture that defines the modern state of Turkey. This concept clashes the Turkish state with the European Union as the conservatives see the states cultural homogeneity under threat from the western culture. The modernists and reformers in Turkey are the major agitators of the integration as they seek radical change as well as a surge in identity parameters to relate more with the modern liberal western styles. The compact majority of the modernists are embedded in the youths of the Turkish state (Gole 1997).

Historical Dimension
History is always defined as the recording of past events and their impact on the present. The emergence of the modern Turkish state has seen it transform through several periods in time The westernization of the Turkish state historically traces its wave back in time, which can be approximated to be around two hundred years (Inalcick, 1998). This historical process as such, came with its undesirable effects that play a significant role in the current Europeanization of Turkey. In its historical process of pursuing policies that ensured that none of the reigning European monarchs gained tremendous power that would see Europes unification, the history of the Ottoman Empire has been highly undesirable in Europes perspective of Turkey in the integration process (Ertugrul 2001).

Anthropological Dimension
Anthropologys stressing of social factors as retrogressive footsteps that echo inexorably in human society is eminent in Turkeys integration into the EU. In the earlier versions of westernization which saw the Ottoman Empire as well as the Republican revolutions impose western civilization on the proletariat in a bid to civilize them, ideally pitting the people against the state for it was seen as the action of the elite that interrupted established norms much to the aristocracys delight, the current Europeanization varies considerably with the former two revolutions that preceded it. As such the compact majority in Turkey which mainly constitute the modernists and reformists perceive the process as a the only means available for the state to integrate into modernity by embracing cultural diversity that is the product of western civilization embedded in European ways of life. In this regard most of the agitators of the integration perceive the integration as ultimate westernization that will act as a conduit that will enable them to practice cultural diversity without the threat of traditional backlash.

Economic Dimension   
To a considerable extent the modernization of the Turkish state bears economic overtones as a major factor in the states bid for inclusion in the European Union (Dagi 2000, Bora 2002). The prevalent view among Turks is that Europeanization is absolutely critical for the states teleological step in the universalization of the countrys economy. As such the countrys economy will borrow from the comprehensive framework exhibited in the EUs member states using them as models for its own economies diversification and expansion. The developed structures that form the system of the EUs economy will act as a platform upon which the country will launch its own economic prosperity. For the lower classes of Turks, the EU represents a hope for a better future as it will provide an opportunity for a better life through more job opportunities, trade as well as subsidies and other incentives that come with the EUs expectations of its member states with regard to health and other social amenities. The nationalists in Turkey though defer with the modernists by alleging that Turkey should assume an independent model in its economic framework (Alpay 1993). As such those who agitate for modernization of the Turkish state bereft of westernization that inculcates western economic policies are the major cause of discontent among the leftist (Keyder 1993). Among the leftists in Turkey theres a feeling of discontent for the Europeanization as it is thought to be the onset of the states abandonment of its traditional economic policies for the EU will dictate the economic conduct of the state.

Geographical Dimension
Turkeys current bid for Europeanization is also faced with the dilemma of Euroasianism as well as Europeanization which creates a quagmire with regard to its Geographical location. To the EU the central location of Turkey is absolutely critical in geographical strategies that may enable it function optimally on the global arena (ni_ and Bak1r 2007). To Turkey though it s a strenuous process of balancing within its needs, demands and benefits whereupon towards the west there is Europe calling in favors while to the east Islamic states that have been very much in tussles with the west are meditating allegiance with religious overtones.

Combination of Dimensions
On the domestic front of the former Ottoman Empire, theres tremendous pressure for the elite involved with the process of integration of Turkey into the EU to consider all political, historical, economic and anthropological factors as well as geographical while striving to maintain harmony and peaceful coexistence of secular elements in a predominantly Islamic state. The viability of the resultant strategy will have tremendous implications for the countries varied society. 
 
Dominant Discipline
The renowned strategic analysts Brzezinski perceived Euro-Asia metaphorically as a momentous chess board where regional countries and powers as well as global players are always in competition to improve their geographical strategies as well as entrepreneurial interests. Turkey is at the core of this grand chess board (Brzezinski 1997). The Geographical location of Turkey is the dominant factor in its integration into the European Union.