The Turkish Elite Attitudes towards Europe A Quantitative Study of an International Survey Research...

The Turkish Elite Attitudes towards Europe

A Quantitative Study of an International Survey Research

byNicolas Monceau

Institute of Political StudiesUniversity of Grenoble

(France)

This presentation aims at providing a selection of findings from an international survey carried out on the Turkish elite

The results of this research are published in a book written by Nicolas Monceau, researcher and lecturer in political science at the University of Grenoble (Institute of Political Studies) :

Générations démocratesLes élites turques et le pouvoir*

Paris, Editions Dalloz, 2007, 615 p.

*English translation of the title : Democrat Generations. The Turkish Elite and Power

For more information about the book « Générations démocrates. Les élites turques et le pouvoir » :

http://www.pacte.cnrs.fr/spip.php?article683

To read an interview with the author :http://ovipot.blogspot.com/2008/01/pour-nicolas-monceau-les-lites-

turques.html

To contact the author :Address : Institut d’Etudes Politiques de GrenobleBP 4838040 Grenoble Cedex 9FranceE-mail : [email protected] Webpage : http://www.pacte.cnrs.fr/spip.php?article227

An international survey on the Turkish Elite Project supervisor : Nicolas Monceau (University of

Grenoble)

Organization : University of Grenoble Institute of Political Studies UMR PACTE (National Center for Scientific Research-CNRS)

In collaboration with : History Foundation (Tarih Vakfi, Istanbul) French Institute of Anatolian Studies-Georges Dumézil (Istanbul) SAM Araştırma-Danışmanlık A.Ş. (Istanbul)

Field survey conducted by SAM Araştırma-Danışmanlık A.Ş. (Istanbul)

An international survey on the Turkish Elite

Methodological Remarks

Field survey conducted : 17 December 2004 – March 2005

Sample structure : 1266 interviewees based in Turkey and abroad (mainly Europe and USA)

Selection of the interviewees : members of a Turkish NGO (History Foundation)

Questionnaire in Turkish language sent by mail

Content of the questionnaire : 80 questions, 312 variables

Answer rate : 25% - 30% (according to the number of questionnaire received by interviewees)


General Aims of the Survey

To have a better knowledge of political and social profile of the Turkish elite : educational, occupational and political backgrounds from the 1960’s to nowadays

To assess Turkish elite opinions and attitudes towards major issues related to Turkey’s European integration process


Fields of Research : Main Topics

Biographical information about the elite Education Occupational position Political opinions and attitudes Impact of the political context (in particular the military interventions) on the elite from

the 1960’s to nowadays

General attitudes towards Europe and the EU Support for Turkey’s European integration Benefits and expectations from the membership Perceptions of Europe and the EU

General attitudes towards democracy Perceptions of democracy Perception of Turkish political history and current political system in Turkey

Role of the elite and « civil society organizations » in Turkish public life

Profiles of the

Turkish Elite investigated

Profiles of the Turkish Elite investigated A male and middle-aged domination

A successful high-level educational background graduated from prestigious high schools and universities in Turkey and abroad cosmopolitan culture : western education foreign language ability

Top-level occupational positions : four main fields « intellectual » field : academics, journalists, writers and artists « technical » field : engineers, architects, technical experts « business » field : businessmen, industrialists and bankers « political » field : statesmen and bureaucrats

A political activism in left-wing organizations (political parties, trade unions, associations and clubs) since the 1960’s

Western, secular, modernizing elite

The most influential kind of event experienced during the period of youth

72%

11% 10%5% 2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Political events Economic and social events International events Cultural events Other events

Question : What was the most influential event that you experienced when you were twenty years old ?

Source : international survey on the Turkish elite (University of Grenoble)

The most influential political event experienced during the period of youth

52%

15%13%

10%7%

3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Military interventions Polls and politicalparties

Youth movements andorganizations

Terror and socialviolence

Other political events Political ideologies


General Attitudes

towards Europe and the EU

Turkish Elite and Public facing Turkey’s accession to the EU

Three Main Indicators

Support for Turkey’s full membership

Turkish perceptions of the EU

National identity and European identity in Turkey

The Turkish Elite : a Strong Support for European Integration

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Full membership : a good thing Full membership : advantagesfor Turkey

Positive image of the EU Confidence in the EU

Yes No


The Turkish Elite : a Strong Trust in the EU

10,4%12,5%

14,5%15,2%

15,6%20,1%

22,1%27%

28,4%30,8%

33,6%37%

38,1%

50,9%60,9%

66,8%67,8%

73,7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

The policeReligious institution

Education systemThe press

Political partiesThe administration

Trade unionsBig companies

NATOThe health system

The national parliamentThe legal system

The social securityThe United Nations

The armyEU

UniversitiesNGO


The Turkish Elite and Public : Variations of Trust in Institutions

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

NGO

Univ

ersi

ties EU

The

arm

y

The

Unite

d Na

tions

The

soci

al s

ecur

ity

The

lega

l sys

tem

The

natio

nal p

arlia

men

t

The

heal

th s

yste

m NATO

Big

com

pani

es

Trad

e un

ions

The

adm

inis

tratio

n

Polit

ical

par

ties

The

pres

s

Educ

atio

n sy

stem

Relig

ious

inst

itutio

n (D

iyan

et)

Relig

ious

inst

itutio

ns

The

polic

e

The

gove

rnm

ent

Turkish elite Turkish public

Sources : international survey on the Turkish elite (University of Grenoble) ; Eurobarometers

The Turkish Elite : Positive Effects of European integration on Turkey

53%43%

31%64%

22%72%

10%86%

9%88%

3,5%93%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Effects on national sovereignty andindependence

Effects on national culture and identity

Effects on Turkey's security

Effects on Turkey's economy

Effects on Turkey's regional role

Effects on Turkish democracy

Negative effects Positive effects


Turkish public opinion :A long-lasting support for European integration

71%

59%

65% 65%67% 67%

71%

62%59%

55%

44%

54%52%

49%

7%

14%17%

13%11% 10% 9%

12%

20%

15%

25%22% 22%

25%

19% 18%

13%

18%

14%

18%

13%

20%17%

21%23%

18% 17%15%

7%5%

3%

9% 8% 7%9%

11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Winter1999

Fall 2001 Spring2002






Automn2007

A good thing A bad thing A thing neither good or bad Don't know / No answer

Source : Eurobarometers

Perceptions of the EU

Democracy Cultural Diversity Economic Prosperity Freedom to Travel Peace Social Protection Stronger Say in the

World Euro

Loss of our Identity Cultural

Bureaucracy Unemployment Not Enough Control at

External Frontiers More Crime Waste of Money Other

Question : What Does the European Union

Mean to You Personally ?

Turkish Public Perceptions of the EU : Economy and Freedom of Movement

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Eco

nom

icPro

sper

ity

Soc

ial

Pro

tect

ion

Fre

edom

toTra

vel

Pea

ce

Dem

ocra

cy

Oth

er

Une

mpl

oym

ent

Cul

tura

lD

iver

sity

Loss

of o

urId

entit

yC

ultu

ral

Stron

ger Say

in th

e W

orld

Not

Eno

ugh

Con

trol

at

Ext

erna

l

Eur

o

Mor

e C

rime

Was

te o

fM

oney

Bur

eauc

racy

Turkish Citizens

Source : Eurobarometer (Fall 2004)

The Turkish Elite Perceptions of the EU :Democracy and Cultural Diversity

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

Eco

nom

icPro

sper

ity

Soc

ial

Pro

tect

ion

Fre

edom

toTra

vel

Pea

ce

Dem

ocra

cy

Oth

er

Une

mpl

oym

ent

Cul

tura

lD

iver

sity

Loss

of o

urId

entit

yC

ultu

ral

Stron

ger Say

in th

e W

orld

Not

Eno

ugh

Con

trol

at

Ext

erna

l

Eur

o

Mor

e C

rime

Was

te o

fM

oney

Bur

eauc

racy

Turkish Citizens Turkish Elite


Turkish and European Public Perceptions of the EU

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Mor

e C

rime

Was

te o

fM

oney

Not

Eno

ugh

Con

trol

at

Ext

erna

l

Oth

er

Une

mpl

oym

ent

Bur

eauc

racy

Eur

o

Loss

of o

urId

entit

yC

ultu

ral

Stron

ger Say

in th

e W

orld

Soc

ial

Pro

tect

ion

Pea

ce

Fre

edom

toTra

vel

Eco

nom

icPro

sper

ity

Cul

tura

lD

iver

sity

Dem

ocra

cy

Turkish Citizens European Citizens

Sources : Eurobarometers

European and Turkish Perceptions of the EU : Variations of Elite and Public

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

Mor

e C

rime

Was

te o

fM

oney

Not

Eno

ugh

Con

trol

at

Ext

erna

l

Oth

er

Une

mpl

oym

ent

Bur

eauc

racy

Eur

o

Loss

of o

urId

entit

yC

ultu

ral

Stron

ger Say

in th

e W

orld

Soc

ial

Pro

tect

ion

Pea

ce

Fre

edom

toTra

vel

Eco

nom

icPro

sper

ity

Cul

tura

lD

iver

sity

Dem

ocra

cy

European Citizens Turkish Citizens Turkish Elite


Awareness of National Identity and European Identity in Turkey

Only National More National than European Both National and European More European than National Only European None National nor European

Question : In the future, how do you see yourself ?

Turkish Public : a Strong Feeling of National Identity

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

Only Turkish More Turkishthan European

Both Turkish andEuropean

More Europeanthan Turkish

Only European None Nationalnor European

Turkish Citizens

Source : Eurobarometer (Fall 2004)

The Turkish Elite : a Mixed Feeling of Turkish and European Identity

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Both Turkishand European

More Europeanthan Turkish


Turkish Elite Turkish Citizens


Awareness of National Identity and European Identity : Variations in Turkey and Europe

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Both Turkishand European

MoreEuropean than

Turkish


Turkish Elite Turkish Citizens European Citizens


Turkey and Europe share common culture and values

3,5

43,3 43,9

5,2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Absolutely Rather Rather Not Not at all

Turkish Elite


It is necessary to belong to the European continent to become member of the EU

4,2

23,2

46,7

18,3

05101520253035404550


Turkish Elite


Nationalism is one of the main obstacles to Turkey’s European integration

25,327,3

36,3

7,3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40


Turkish Elite


There are a lot of prejudice against Turkey in Europe

43,6 43,9

7,6

10

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45


Turkish Elite


If the EU does not accept Turkey’s full membership, this is because it is a « Christian club »

12,1

30,8

43,6

9,7

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45


Turkish Elite


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