Turkish people are afraid and want the West
The Turkish public does not feel safe and secure. This is what the results of the ?Survey of Social-Political Tendencies in Turkey? tell us indirectly. This annual survey has been conducted every year for four years by the Kadir Has University, in order to reflect the changes in public opinion in Turkey. The results of 2014 were presented last week by Rector Prof. Mustafa Ayd?n.
According to the survey, there has been a 20 percent rise in the number of people who support European Union membership, a rise from 51.8 percent in 2013 to 71.4 percent this year. Those who say ?Turkey?s NATO membership should continue? have risen from 72 percent to 76.2 percent.
There is also a sharp increase in the number of people who consider the U.S. to be Turkey?s ally, rising from 14.4 percent in 2013 to 30.8 percent in 2014.
The most significant increase is with the number of people who support cooperation with U.S., which has tripled since last year. Even more interestingly, cooperation with the U.S. is much more preferred than with Muslim countries. The U.S. is therefore seen as Turkey?s closest partner today. In addition, the total number of respondents who see the U.S. as a threat fell by half, from 68 percent last year down to 36 percent in 2014.
What is the reason for this sudden inclination toward the West? The main motivation seems to be related to increasing security concerns.
One foot of this security concern is located outside - with the problems in Turkey?s neighborhood of non-European countries. The more the security threat rises in the region, the more the Turkish public looks for assurance. This is why it sees the Western alliance as a lifesaver.
Washington-based research institute the German Marshall Fund conducts...
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