Governing America: The Revival of Political History

Abstract

Nathalie Tocci's Turkey’s European Future critically examines Turkey's EU membership aspirations through the lens of American influence. The book argues that Turkey's accession is hindered by contradictory dynamics: the EU's reluctance due to institutional and cultural concerns, and America's strategic interest in pushing for Turkish membership as a geopolitical tool. Tocci posits that Turkey remains a 'hostage' of American foreign policy, caught between transatlantic interests and internal EU skepticism. The reviewer praises Tocci’s logical structure and thorough analysis of transatlantic policy, EU enlargement, and Turkey's role. The book highlights how U.S. foreign policy shapes EU-Turkey relations, positioning Turkey as a strategic asset while also exploring institutional and cultural barriers within the EU that complicate Turkey's accession. Tocci adopts an interdisciplinary approach, blending political science, international relations theory, and historical analysis, aligning with realist and liberal institutionalist perspectives.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)