A Constructivist Analysis of Turkey- European Union Relations within the Context of Five Phase Spiral Model

Human Rights Dimension

Abstract

This article analyzes the European Union-Turkey relations with regard to human rights reforms in Turkey and particularly the European institutions’ impact on reformation process. It will be argued that the EU has been an active leverage especially after the post-Helsinki period. In this regard, this work will propose that in the absence of domestic forces the European Union promotes progressive steps in Turkey. By analyzing this process and correlation, on the theoretical basis this article will use the Constructivist approach and the Five Phase Spiral Model, which introduce sociological point of view to world politics, underline importance of normative structures. Basically, this work assesses the usefulness and validity of model and Constructivism as an explanation of the changes in the Turkish government’s human rights practices.