This thesis aims to analyze German Conservatism and the impact of Germany&rsquo / s policies towards Turkey&rsquo / s membership. The point of departure is privileged partnership which is offered to Turkey in replace of membership to the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a prominent defender of privileged partnership and previous Chancellor Gerhard Schr&ouml / der who supported Turkey&rsquo / s accession, had a totally different attitude. It is questioned whether this sharp change in foreign policy derives from German Conservatism and Christian Democracy. As a result, it is not possible to claim an essentialist opposition to Turkey&rsquo / s accession by German Christian Democrats but privileged partnership is a product of German Conservative thinking which sees European Integration as a cultural project.

Diese Arbeit behandelt die Frage, welche Auswirkungen eine EU-Mitgliedschaft der Türkei auf die europäischen Sicherheitsbeziehungen haben würde. Es wird die sicherheitspolitische Situation in- und außerhalb der türkischen Staatsgrenzen analysiert. Auf Basis der Rational Choice Theorie vom Akteurzentrierten Institutionalismus wird gezeigt mit welchen Herausforderungen die Europäische Union konfrontiert wäre und die Frage behandelt, ob eine so genannte Privilegierte Partnerschaft eine mögliche Alternative zu einer Vollmitgliedschaft sein kann. / This work deals with the question which impact an EU-membership of Turkey would have on European security relations. It analyzes the security situation in- and outside Turkeys frontiers. Based on the rational choice theory of Akteurzentrierter Institutionalismus it tries to give a prospect of possible challenges for the European Union and brings up the question whether a so called privileged partnership is a possible altnernative to a full membership.