Ruprecht Polenz - Better for Both of Them: Turkey Ought to Be in the EU

Better for Both of Them

Turkey Ought to Be in the EU

Ruprecht Polenz

Translated by Alfred Clayton

The Power of Enlightenment

In the field of foreign policy interests are often more important than arguments for or against. There is in fact much to be said for the idea that one day Turkey may become a member of the European Union. But that is not very popular. And who wants to champion a cause which is bound to alienate voters instead of gaining their support? One man is actually prepared to go down this road. What Ruprecht Polenz has to say in this paper goes against public opinion and the basic tenets of his own party. A Christian Democrat and chairman of the German Parliaments Committee on Foreign Affairs, he does a good service to democracy by adhering to Article 38 of the Basic Law, which states that members of parliament are responsible only to their conscience. Democracy is posited on an epistemological kind of dialogue, and this is at variance with the dictates of the party whip. If political parties determine in advance the line they intend to follow on a particular issue, this will merely lead to a clash of opposing views and not to a fruitful interchange of arguments. But the latter is absolutely essential if public opinion is to grow and develop instead of standing still. And that was the whole point of the Enlightenment.

Polenz places his trust in Enlightenment, for he believes that its immanent power will enable Turkey and the EU to make the right kind of progress. When Turkey joins the EU, it will be a different country. In the course of the protracted accession process, it will become living proof that Islam, democracy and the rule of law are not incompatible. Yet the process also presents the European Union with an opportunity, and this is to develop an enlightened understanding of its identity. After overcoming numerous ingrained prejudices, the Union, in the words of the EU Treaty, will at last be open to all European states which respect its values and are committed to promoting them together. The author interprets this as follows. In the 21 st century these values should be defined and construed in terms of their universal validity, as indeed they were by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

In this essay Ruprecht Polenz models his thinking on the best French and Cartesian traditions of reason, and in a calm, sober and systematic manner he refutes one argument against Turkish membership after another. However, this book contains more than a mere list of pros and cons. Thus the authors message and procedure are based on a forward-looking understanding of politics. It is the task of Europe in general and of Germany in particular to make a very specific contribution to the global society of the 21 st century. If Turkey were to become a member of the EU, it would make it clear to all the world that Europe does not want a clash of civilizations.

Roger de Weck
Editor of the series Standpunkte

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: So the real question continues to be where one puts the border in geographical terms. You say that Turkey can join the EU if it fulfils the criteria.

Helmut Kohl: We have always said that.

(Personal Interview on 22 January 2004)