BY HUSEYIN YILDIZ
AKSAM- Over the last 25 years, the extraordinary progress we’ve seen in data processing, communication, transportation and distribution has enabled the speedy shuttling of capital, goods and labor across the world. In line with the globalization of the world economy, national markets are linking up with regional markets, and regional markets are uniting to form a global market. As commercial boundaries between nations fall and the volume of international trade rises, advanced technology transfer to developing countries has gained momentum. In this context, the most notable trend has been observed in the flow and integration of capital. On the other hand, the flow of labor has remained comparatively low, due to economic, political and cultural worries.
Turkey hopes to strengthen its position in this global economic integration process by joining the European Union. Towards this end, Ankara initiated negotiations with the European Economic Community in 1959. Later, in 1973, Turkey signed an Additional Protocol Agreement, which aimed at forming a customs union. Then last December, Turkey got a date for EU membership talks after successfully fulfilling certain conditions set out by the Copenhagen criteria. More important however, will be our meeting the Maastricht criteria, which demand economic and monetary reforms.
On the other hand, this supra-national economical integration has brought along with it supra-national political, legal, environmental, socio-cultural and military institutions, as well as common standards for living and working together. But can we say that national governments have now become part of this supra-national social organization model? In my opinion, this notion can be misleading. The basic principle is preserving individual nations’ existence while developing new modes of communication. A nation can guarantee its survival only through cultural means. If compromises don’t reduce identities and cultures to stereotypes, variety and citizens’ rights will continue to endure.