The aim of this thesis is to analyze the adaptation of Turkey to EU research and innovation policies in the light of developments in within their own dynamics, and within the framework of obligations of the accession period. A comparative analysis of Turkish and EU policies is made by pointing out the weaknesses of Turkey, which are supported by related indicators specifying the gap between EU in research and innovation capabilities. In accordance with the findings of the comparison of Turkey and EU, this study attempts to develop recommendations for the reassessment of existing policy tools, and to propose new policy instruments within organizational and institutional infrastructure, implementation and further integration with EU in research and innovation. The evaluations highlight that Turkey is experiencing problems in structuring and implementing its policy instruments, rather than developing policy formulations.

This thesis analyzes tha value added tax (VAT) in the European Union (EU). Primarily,the issue of tax harmonization and legal basis of tax harmonization in the context of European Union is studied. Furthermore, this thesis makes a comparision of VAT legislation in the EU and Turkey and identifies differences between the EU VAT system and Turkish VAT Law.Lastly, within the framework of finding similarities between Turkish and EU VAT legislation,the thesis tries to examine whether major harmonization laws are needded to be adopted in the accession process in the field of VAT.

The aim of this thesis is to suggest the ways of promoting energy efficiency in Turkey in the light of best practices at the level of European Union and most energy efficient Member States, Denmark and Gremany. This thesis provides a critical evaluation of Turkish energy efficiency policies in transmission, distribution and consumption stages of energy by pointing out their weaknesses. The evaluations highlight the fact that Turkey has substantial energy saving potential in electricity distribution grids and end-use sectors. The EU, Danish and German experiences demonstrate that the greatest energy efficiency improvement could be achieved in industry sector. By taking these experiences and the problems of Turkey into consideration, this thesis recommends possible measures. It is concluded that, when the energy efficiency potential is evaluated, primarily attention could be paid to industry sector.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the minorities issue within the Turkey-European Union relations. In the study, international, European and Turkish perspectives in minority understanding will be explored, respectively. The main argument will read: &ldquo / Minorities issue is a highly politicized matter upon which neither legal nor academic standards are reached commonly in international, European or Turkish perspectives / thus, it must not constitute one of the focal points in Turkey-EU relations&rdquo / . The analyses of historical development, legal background, political influence as well as a conceptual analysis will be followed for all three perspectives. A textual and descriptive research method will be employed throughout the thesis. The conclusion will be drawn with regards to the controversial position of the minorities issue, overall, and specifically for the membership negotiations between Turkey and European Union. This road of approach would contribute to the perception of those reluctant to the political intervention of the European Union towards candidate states, as well as would help locate Turkey&rsquo / s future position regarding Protection of Minorities and minority rights.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the extent of euro&rsquo / s challenge to the US dollar as an international currency, focusing on comparisons between these two major currencies&rsquo / international roles and their private and official uses as a store of value, a medium of exchange and a unit of account throughout the world, and specifically in Turkey. The thesis evaluates the roles of the euro and US dollar as financing and investment, invocing, vehicle, reserve, anchor and intervention currencies basically in financial markets, foreign trade, foreign exchange markets, foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate regimes globally and in Turkey. The evaluations highlight the fact that the euro has been successfull as an international currency since its introduction in 1999 and is the second most widely used international currency in all the main international currency roles, after the US dollar. The findings of the thesis indicate that the use of the euro shows an increasing trend and the euro is likely to play an increasingly prominent role in the world, and specifically in Turkey.

In this thesis, the competing and shifting hegemonic discourses in Turkey-EU relations in the period between 1999 Helsinki European Council and 3 October 2005 are discussed in the framework of neo-Gramscian perspectives. In this study, initially the classic theories of European integration are analyzed and on the basis of the argument that the classic theories of European integration exhausted their potentials in explaining the European integration process, the neo-Gramscian perspectives are presented as an alternative theoretical framework. Deriving from the wavering character of Turkey-EU relations, the turning points in the related time period are defined and competing and shifting hegemonic discourses for both sides are discussed. The main argument of this thesis is that, since the very beginning of Turkey-EU relations, it has a wavering character and these relations are reproduced through the redefinition of competing and shifting hegemonic discourses with the active contribution of social actors in the related time period.

The 1990&#039 / s witnessed the emergence of Constructivist approach in the International Relations theory. Constructivism rejecting the rationalist precepts of Neo-Realism and Neo-Liberalism brought a sociological point of view to the world politics mentioned the role of ideational factors in the constitution process of interests and identities. Constructivism assumes that there is a mutual constitution process between states and normative structures in which states internalized existing international societal norms with efforts of international non-state actors seen as active teachers guiding states to initiate policies that are congruent with international civilized norms of behaviour. Today human rights are defined as civilized normative patterns. At this point five phase spiral model reveals itself and introduces explanations for how states understand, interpret and internalize international human rights norms. The model assumes that target state&#039 / s identity, interest and behaviors are influenced by international human rights norms as it progresses through the model&#039 / s five phased spiral process. The model in this process emphasizes roles and efforts of international organizations. v This work assesses the usefulness of the five phase spiral model and Constructivism as an explanation of the changes in the Turkish government&rsquo / s human rights practices. As case study effect of the European Union over normative transformation in the field of human rights in Turkey will be given. The thesis bringing criticisms to the model&rsquo / s assumptions in Turkey case will assert that Turkey, from the 1980 Military intervention to the end of 2007 has made progressive steps in line with the phases mentioned in the spiral model.

This study is an exploration of the European Union acquis adoption in the Turkish National Police. The research employed the Diffusion of Innovations, Democratic Policing, and historical background check theoretical frameworks to study the decision-making of the TNP regarding reforms after 2003 as a qualitative case study which triangulated the methodology with less-dominant survey and several other analyzing methods. The data were collected from several sources including semi-structured interviews, archival records, documentary evidences and the European Commission Regular Reports on Turkey. The research interest was about the decision mechanisms of the TNP towards reforms and the rise of democratic policing in Turkey. During the study, internationally recognized human rights standards were given attention. As the data suggested, the police forces are shaped according to their ruling governments and societies. It is impossible to find a totally democratic police in a violent society and a totally violent police in a democratic society. The study findings suggested that reforming police agencies should not be a significant problem for determined governments. Human rights violations should not be directly related with the police in any country. The data suggested that democratic policing applications find common application when the democracy gets powerful and police brutality increases when authoritarian governments stays in power. Democratic policing on the other hand is an excellent tool to improve notion of democracy and to provide legitimacy to governments. However, democratic policing is not a tool to bring the democracy, but a support mechanism for it.

The thesis describes the process of enlargement of EU, with emphasis on circumstances, which influences the enlargement process, with current candidate countries (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) and the new member state Croatia as example. The thesis is divided into three chapters; first chapter presents basic information about phases of the process. Second chapter deals with previous enlargements of European Community, or EU. Third chapter analyzes current candidate states, presents their political and economical characteristics and current stage of the process. A part of the third chapter predicts future development and possible date of the entry of each candidate state.