Political psychology of overconfidence and emotions in Turkey-EU relations

Abstract

In this article, domestic support for Turkish foreign policy and official Turkish attitude towards Turkey-EU relations are discussed and analyzed based on a number of political psychogical concepts such as emotions, overconfidence, system justification tools and ideology. The Neo-Ottomanist revivalist international relations model as any other model revolves on emotions to make its point. International pragmatism and practicalities are downgraded to open the door for a more ideological and confrontational understanding of international relations. A political psychological analysis shows how the “world leader” rhetoric turns out to be an effective tool for domestic politics, as “world leadership” perception is mobilized to justify domestic policy-making as well. The paper concludes with a deeper understanding of this revivalist rhetoric within the context of Turkey-EU relations.