Bloodless Coup

Appealing to the Sunni Arab Majority

The Kinzer article mentioned below is also interesting when considered in light of this post by Matthew Yglesias. If the European Union were to admit Turkey, the second most populous state in the EU would be composed almost entirely of Sunni Muslims. But degree to which other Sunnis would see this as engagement and acceptance by the West is unclear. After all we are talking about engaging Sunni Muslim Turks and Kurds (not Arabs) in a fiercely secular state. Some in the region might see this move as following the frequent American tactic of allying with minority groups against Sunni Arab majorities. Still, it strikes me that if one of the West’s current goals is to show a sincere interest in developing the Middle East and improving the lives of its people, more engagement with the Muslim world is a good thing, be it with Turks or Arabs.