Word: pro-western
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Supporters of the AKP counter that the party doesn't encourage conservative social trends, but merely reflects them in its own policies. They say the AKP is opposed to Shari'a or Islamic law, and point out that its legislative agenda has been far more economically liberal and pro-Western than that of its secularist opponents...
...local hardliners' reliance on Belgrade could backfire, though: The power of hard-line Serb nationalists in the Serb capital has begun to ebb. National elections in early May were won by pro-Western moderates, who may begin to withdraw support from hardliners in the town. At least, that is what Western diplomats who want to unite Kosovo and end the stand-off in Mitrovica are hoping...
...their nationalist ideology and focused on social issues, which explains their relative success in Serbia. Neglecting the country's pauperized working class, which faced massive job losses and severe cuts in social benefits during Serbia's bumpy road to capitalism, was one of key mistakes of Serbia's pro-Western politicians after Milosevic's fall. With the Socialists in the government, this can now be corrected...
...pretty even match between pro-European moderates who wanted Serbia to join the E.U. and nationalists who wanted closer ties with Russia. Kosovo's declaration of independence tipped the balance in favor of the nationalists. Some 60% of Serbs say they want to join the E.U., but that number drops below 45% if they are told the price of E.U. entry is the loss of Kosovo. The ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party - which once advocated union with Russia and Belarus, and is now tied for first place with a coalition of more pro-Western parties - could enter government alongside nationalist Prime...
Modern Turkey has looked Westward since its staunchly secular founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk decreed the separation of mosque and state shortly after World War I. The pro-Western political bent did not immediately translate into liberal economics. Corruption, cronyism and protectionism continued to cloud prospects until the 1980s. Even then, after a period of economic liberalization under reformist Prime Minister Turgut Ozal (a pal of Margaret Thatcher's), the old habits died hard. In 2001, Turkey suffered a full-blown financial crisis in which the Turkish currency lost nearly 50% of its value overnight...