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The Centre for European Studies (CEUROS), jointly with the Department of Politics and Public Administration Spring 2025 Seminar Series welcomed Çiğdem Üstün (Istanbul) on April 23rd.

Abstract:

As the international world order undergoes a significant restructuring, the tone and dynamics of diplomatic engagement between Türkiye and the West are shifting. Rising populism, heightened security concerns, and increasingly protectionist economic and social policies are directly influencing Türkiye’s relations with Western powers. In the case of the United States, the dialogue between the new U.S. administration and the Turkish government has become more frequent and transparent compared to the previous Biden administration. Similarly, Türkiye’s engagement with the European Union has intensified since the new European Commission took office. This renewed interaction is largely driven by Europe’s evolving security needs in the face of changing transatlantic relations and growing regional threats. The increasingly transactional nature of Türkiye–EU relations is characterized by closer cooperation in defense, security policies, migration management, the modernization of the Customs Union, and the potential for visa liberalization. However, in this pragmatic framework, the EU's traditional emphasis on conditionality and its normative role has diminished significantly. Concepts such as the rule of law, human rights, and democracy—once central to Türkiye–EU relations—are no longer at the forefront of the agenda for either the EU or its member states.This seminar will explore how the global rise of illiberalism is reshaping Türkiye’s relations with the West and examine how these broader ideological shifts are reflected in diplomatic priorities and the evolving balance between values and interests in international relations.