"Turkish Exceptionalism?
By Soner Cagaptay
Hurriyet Daily News, November 28, 2010
Some might claim that in spite of the intensifying Justice and Development Party (AKP)-led reorientation of Turkey's domestic and international agenda, Turkey will inevitably maintain, at the least, a fair balance between its Eastern and Western commitments and perhaps even continue to be a strong Western ally. Although some Turks boast about this intrinsic 'Turkish exceptionalism' in explaining their country's unique ability, thus far, to mesh with the West, this is only a myth. Turkey has functioned as an exceptional Western Muslim country, not because the Turks are exceptional, but because they have lived in a system which has taught them that they share values, institutions, and interests with the West, and led them to collaborate with NATO, the United States, and the European Union accession process. "
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