Too Soon for Turkish Delight

After decades of waiting – in addition to last-minute delays – Turkey may finally see a beginning to formal talks concerning EU membership. European diplomats had been unable to agree on a negotiating framework, because Austria's government has insisted that Turkey be given an alternative "privileged partnership" rather than full membership. Though Austria was forced to back down, plenty of other challenges remain. And a number of those challenges are from within Turkish borders. As Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan continues to work on EU-prescribed reforms, he faces growing opposition from nationalist parties within Turkey. Could domestic resistance to the required legal, economic, and cultural reforms sabotage the country's drive for EU membership? "That would be a pity," writes The Economist, "when the prime minister has risked so much for Turkey's European future." – YaleGlobal