An Unsteady Colossus Astride the Bosphorus 89 ... - Legatum Institute

MODERN ISTANBULof the few Islamic nations without an indigenous jihadist movement, Turks do notautomatically side with Europe and America. All this suggests that Turkey remains anawkward fit in a liberal world order.DIVERGENCE FROM LIBERALISMFor Europe and America, the urgent need for cooperative security in the face ofSoviet expansionism brought them closer in other ways, leading them to buildliberal institutions that matched their common outlook. By the same logic, Westernpolicymakers assumed that all nations aspiring to affluence in the global economywould adopt their values—that economic engagement would lead to convergence inpolitical norms.But that has not happened with Turkey. Its pro-Western geopolitical orientation hasnot led to a convergence of views on matters of judicial independence, human rights,regulatory transparency, or checks on the power of government. Strong rights toprivate property do exist in Turkey, but they are not buttressed by an impartial judicialsystem that enforces contracts and ensures due process. Civil society is dominated by4www.li.com