The French dilemma

Last weekend an international meeting was held in Istanbul entitled, "EU-Turkey Relations: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead." The organizers were the Center for European Reform, the British Council and the Center for Strategic Studies of the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The foreign speakers were well chosen and represented a variety of EU nations, as well as political positions/groups. Those who voiced opposition to Turkey’s full and equal membership were frank in explaining the reasons for their position. Mr. Dominique Moisi, a bright and eloquent gentleman, voiced the French view. Mr. Moisi is a special advisor at the French Institute of International Affairs and professor at the Institut d’etudes politiques, Paris. His credentials were impeccable; his speech was fluent yet what he said was disturbing, although it allowed the Turkish participants hear the internal dialogue of the French people. What he said clearly revealed the fact that Turkey’s quest for full membership in the EU was to a great extent hijacked by the worries and internal questions of France, of which was basically particular to the French.

The remainder of this article is a summation of what Mr. Moisi said and to enlighten the Turkish authorities and intellectuals of French thinking and prepare their country in its quest for membership.

The debate in France concerning the declaration of a date to start accession talks with Turkey takes place in the atmosphere of yet more dissatisfaction. Polls show that the French people are not happy with the inclusion of 10 new members to the union. Altogether their population adds up to 70 million and they do not know how to digest that many "aliens." Now Turkey is knocking on the door with another 70 million with a totally different culture. Turkish culture is a combination of Islam, oriental despotism (that has little respect for human rights and democracy) and a large rural population marked with poverty and traditionalism. Who would want such a problematic population — before the previous 70 million who are geographically, culturally and economically closer to Europe and Europeanness — to become truly European and fill in the gaps existing between them and the first 15 member states?

This may be a legitimate concern but what about the others which are born out of the belief that France and the French are unique and matchless: The concerns raised are based on nostalgia of a past when the French culture was the epitome of human achievement and the French Revolution provided the fundamental principles of democracy and rule of law for the whole of humanity. Coupled with being a global actor in the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries, French exceptionalism is the foundation of the present French identity. Yet that identity is based on past qualities that have waned substantially in the half-century that we left behind. Globalization has eroded the world, which France partly dominated and French culture shaped. We have entered a period in history where national sovereignty is partly delegated to supra-national bodies (such as the EU), national defense is taken over by multi-national alliances and culture is basically shaped by technology and consumerism.

The fact that the world does not turn around France any more is traumatic for the French. They perceive this as a world increasingly getting flat and they have grown a fear that they may "fall off the edge" of this estranged world which they no more can shape or control. The more globalization encroaches on the French way of life the more the French cling to particularities that they claim to be part of French exceptionalism. Turkey definitely increases the anxiety caused by globalization and the approaching of the different, alien and possibly the hazardous. Such a world and future is full of traps.

There is already a large Arab-Muslim population living France. There are Turks too. A part of these resident aliens resist assimilation, which is the French policy for integration. This population group is like an iron nut that cannot be chewed and swallowed. If swallowed, it cannot be digested. The French Right says, "We are Christians historically and culturally. This is the foundation of our national identity; we cannot abandon it. Conversely, those aliens living in or who want to settle in France are neither products of our history nor our culture. They just thrive on us and we do not want that."

On the other hand, the left says, "Laicism or a secular way of life and political regime is our most revered cultural pattern. We have weeded out any reference to God from our Constitution. Religion or religious principles do not guide our political system. Now a huge religious populations who use God as a reference in their daily social conduct is coming down on us like an avalanche. That is unacceptable."

A third French excuse for resisting Turkey’s membership is closely related to a conspiratorial understanding of the world (which we Turks have turned into a political art). The dominant or hegemonic power of the world is the United States. This country is often acting arbitrarily and is capable of endangering the national interests and security of France. Turkey is a close ally of the United States and may be used as the Trojan horse of the United States in the EU. Similarly, one of the ardent supporters of Turkey’s membership is Britain. This country is not only the soul brother of the United States, but is also against European integration (or federation). So by encouraging Turkey’s entry to the union, it is sabotaging the consummation of the European Federation. Endorsing Turkey’s membership will be falling into the Anglo-Saxon trap, which the French have so valiantly resisted until now.

This is the synopsis of Mr. Moisi’s summary of the French rationale behind keeping the door closed to Turkey’s membership. The arguments seem to be shared by the majority of the French people. Now the historical test is binding for both the French and the Turks alike. Can the French cleanse themselves of the homemade worries and suspicions and stand behind the promise they have made to the world to uphold the universal ideals of "liberte, egalite and fraternite" for all? And would the Turks succeed in getting rid of their archaic institutions, state-worshipping and low socio-economic standards and prove to Europeans they are not really different and that they revere the same high human ideals? If so, this will be a better and peaceful world. If not there are troubled waters ahead.