Constructing Turkey's "western" identity during the Cold War Discourses of the intellectuals of statecraft Throughout the republican era, membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions has provided Turkey's policymakers with the opportunity to assert the country's "western" identity. Indeed, Turkey's "westernness" has been expressed, not only through the adoption of ideas and manners from the west (as happened in Ottoman times), but also through joining western institutions, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This is one of the reasons why the US project of promoting democracy in the greater Middle East is received with enthusiasm by some in Ankara. Notwithstanding the concerns of those who worry that taking an active part in this project would undermine the carefully constructed role Islam plays in shaping political processes in Turkey, others seem to consider this scheme an opportunity to entrench Turkey's position within NATO and (re)assert its western identity.1 Eylem Yilmaz holds an MA in international relations from Bilkent University. Pinar Bilgin is assistant professor of international relations at Bilkent University in Ankara. The authors would like to acknowledge financial support provided by the department of international relations at Bilkent University and to thank Umit Cizre and Bilge Crissfor their helpful comments.

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Constructing Turkey's "western" identity during the Cold War Discourses of the intellectuals of statecraft Throughout the republican era, membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions has provided Turkey's policymakers with the opportunity to assert the country's "western" identity. Indeed, Turkey's "westernness" has been expressed, not only through the adoption of ideas and manners from the west (as happened in Ottoman times), but also through joining western institutions, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This is one of the reasons why the US project of promoting democracy in the greater Middle East is received with enthusiasm by some in Ankara. Notwithstanding the concerns of those who worry that taking an active part in this project would undermine the carefully constructed role Islam plays in shaping political processes in Turkey, others seem to consider this scheme an opportunity to entrench Turkey's position within NATO and (re)assert its western identity.1 Eylem Yilmaz holds an MA in international relations from Bilkent University. Pinar Bilgin is assistant professor of international relations at Bilkent University in Ankara. The authors would like to acknowledge financial support provided by the department of international relations at Bilkent University and to thank Umit Cizre and Bilge Crissfor their helpful comments.