October 2005 Show

An interview with Professor Birol Yesilada, Professor of Political Science and Chair of Turkish Studies at Portland State University.

Thursday October 13th, 2005
6-7 PM KBOO 90.7 fm

Click here for the on-line version of this show.

Despite resentments in part of several European Countries finally EU entered into the negotiatiosn for Turkey's full membership in the Union. Dr. Yesilada will elaborate on this process and reasons behind EU's resentment to accept a predominantly Muslim country as a full member. What is at stake for both sides and future implications will be discussed.

Birol A. Yesilada is professor of Political Science and International Studies at Portland State University (PSU). He is also holder of the endowed chair in Contemporary Turkish Studies in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. He came to PSU in September1998 from the University of Missouri-Columbia where he was Chair of the Department of Political Science.


Dr. Yesilada received his B.A. degree in 1977 in Neurobiology from the University of California at Berkeley, his M.A. in Political Science in 1979 from San Francisco State University, and his Ph.D. in Political Science in1984 from the University of Michigan.

His recent publications include books, The Emerging European Union (with David Wood, Longman, 1996, 2nd ed. 2001 and 3rd ed. 2003), Comparative Political Parties and Party Elites (University of Michigan Press, 1999), The Socioeconomic and Political Transformation of Turkey (co-ed., with Atila Eralp and Muharrem T?Praeger, 1993), and numerous articles and book chapters including ?Political Future of Afghanistan and Its Implications for U.S. Policy? Conflict Management and Peace Science (Spring 2003 with Jacek Kugler and Brian Efird), ?Negotiating a Resolution to the Cyprus Problem: Is Potential European Union Membership a Blessing or a Curse?? International Negotiation Journal (2002, with Ahmet Sozen), ?Turkey?s EU Candidacy? Middle East Journal (2002) ?Turkey and the United States? Dangerous Neighborhood: Aspects of Turkey's Foreign Relations, (2002), ?The Virtue Party,? Turkish Studies (2002), and ?Realignment and Party Adaptation,? in Politics, Parties, and Elections in Turkey (2002). His is co-editor of International Studies Perspectives and Associate editor of Middle East Studies Association Bulletin.

His current research interests include: The European Union (enlargement issues, ESDI-NATO, economic integration and other internal policies), political and economic development of Turkey, radical Islam and terrorism, the Cyprus negotiations (decision making and bargaining analysis), global power transition, and politics of economic reform in the emerging markets.