The question of whether Turkey is ready to join the European Union has been discussed a lot in recent years and many arguments in favor and against an accession have been put forward. This thesis deals especially with those aspects of the debate concerning human and minority rights. Though Turkey has made some progress in that field too, a lot of issues are yet unresolved; most importantly the denial of the genocide against Christians at the beginning of the last century and the associated discrimination of non-Moslems that still exists today.
Unfortunately, these points are rarely acknowledged and economic issues seem to be of higher importance. Only few people even know about the atrocities that took place a century ago and those who do, mostly connect it with the Armenians and - possibly - the Pontiac Greeks; one group of victims seems to be utterly forgotten – the Syriacs. This is of course not to say that the other minorities’ persecution is of lesser significance, but this thesis will focus on the Syriacs, in order to give those a voice, who were almost completely unheard up to now.
In the course of the following chapters it will be argued that Turkey has to come to terms with its past - which necessarily has to include recognizing the genocide - if it wants to become a member of the European Union and that it is up to the EU to make that topic a priority. The accession talks, if conducted in the right way, could offer a unique possibility to bring along a long-overdue change in Turkey’s human rights policy. Past events have shown that there is potential for improvement. However, to achieve this, certain facts have to be addressed; ignoring them would be to the detriment of all.
To show this, the first chapters will provide the historical background, focusing on the genocide and its aftermath, but also on Turkey’s role as a bridge between cultures. Then, the development of the accession talks and the criteria attached to it will be analyzed. Finally, the positive and negative developments for Christian minorities (especially the Syriacs) and a possible pathway for change will be elaborated on.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Terminology
2.1 Syriacs
2.2 Genocide and its recognition
2.3 Seyfo
3 Historical background
3.1 Dhimmi and Millet System
3.2 The Ottoman Empire
3.3 „Seyfo“ – The genocide of 1914/15
3.4 The Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne
3.5 Emigration due to Kurdish Conflict as 2nd ethnic cleansing
4 Turkey as a bridge between Orient and Occident?
5 Turkey’s application for EU membership
5.1 The Copenhagen Criteria
5.2 Soft power politics as a solution?
5.3 Developments outlined in the EU Progress Report 2010
5.4 Developments with regard to the Syriac community
5.4.1 Mor Gabriel
5.4.2 Turkish TV shows and minority rights
5.4.3 Other developments according to ESU
6 Coming to terms with the past – Turkey as a strong partner for Europe?
7 Conclusion
8 Bibliography
Objectives & Core Topics
This thesis examines the readiness of Turkey for European Union membership by focusing on human and minority rights, with a specific emphasis on the historical and contemporary challenges faced by the Syriac community. The core research question addresses whether Turkey's accession could serve as a mechanism to facilitate recognition of the genocide and promote improvements in minority protection.
- The historical genocide against Christian minorities (Seyfo).
- Turkey's geopolitical role as a bridge between Orient and Occident.
- The evaluation of Turkey's fulfillment of the Copenhagen Criteria.
- The systemic discrimination and challenges faced by the Syriac minority.
- The impact of Turkey's foreign policy and internal political developments on EU integration.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 „Seyfo“ – The genocide of 1914/15
Eventually, Jihad was proclaimed by Sultan Mehmed V and confirmed in a fatwa. For Germany this Pan-Islamic Union was meant as help in their attempt to get to India, through Persia and Afghanistan; the Ottomans on their part, wanted to spread Pan-Turkism with the help of other Islamic countries and create a new bond to the Arabic countries in order to realize their own dreams of expansion.
However, soon the phrase of the holy war was also used for the annihilation of the Christian population. Jihad had proved a useful tool for deporting (and murdering) Christians and taking their property.15
For many Christians the beginning of Seyfo was marked by the start of the mobilization, which was brutal and drained the villages of young men. Additionally, pogroms had already begun.
When the Third Army (a Special Force led by Enver) lost its defense of the Caucasus front, the Russians returned having some Armenians and Syriacs in their ranks. When the Ottomans realized that, they started to massacre even loyal villages in the border region and continued to do so back in their territory.16
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the ongoing debate regarding Turkey's EU accession, emphasizing the focus on human rights and the necessity of addressing the historical genocide against Syriacs.
2 Terminology: This section defines the historical and religious identity of the Syriacs and provides a legal definition of genocide based on UN conventions and the work of Raphael Lemkin.
3 Historical background: This chapter details the historical status of non-Muslim minorities under the Dhimmi and Millet systems, the rise of the Ottoman Empire, and the systematic massacres of 1914/15 known as Seyfo.
4 Turkey as a bridge between Orient and Occident?: This chapter challenges the common political narrative of Turkey as a stabilizing bridge, arguing that its foreign policy priorities often contradict Western and European interests.
5 Turkey’s application for EU membership: This chapter analyzes Turkey’s progress regarding the Copenhagen Criteria, the failure of soft power approaches, and the specific ongoing suppression of the Syriac community.
6 Coming to terms with the past – Turkey as a strong partner for Europe?: This chapter argues that Turkey must fundamentally reconcile with its past, including the recognition of historical genocides, to become a credible and value-aligned European partner.
7 Conclusion: This final section summarizes the necessity for the EU to demand strict adherence to human rights, asserting that ignoring these issues undermines the Union’s own standards and credibility.
8 Bibliography: A comprehensive list of primary documents, articles, and literature used to support the thesis.
Keywords
Turkey, European Union, EU accession, Syriacs, Seyfo, genocide, human rights, minority rights, Copenhagen Criteria, Ottoman Empire, Mor Gabriel, religious freedom, minority discrimination, geopolitics, historical reconciliation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary objective of this thesis?
The work aims to analyze Turkey's suitability for EU membership by specifically looking at its treatment of human and minority rights, focusing on the historical and modern struggles of the Syriac community.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The core themes include the history of Christian minorities in Turkey, the definition and recognition of the Seyfo genocide, and the political evaluation of Turkey's compliance with EU standards.
What is the main research question?
The research explores whether the EU accession process provides a viable mechanism for Turkey to resolve historical traumas and improve its human rights record.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses historical analysis, review of political progress reports, and examination of current socio-political case studies to evaluate the criteria for EU membership.
What is covered in the main section of the book?
The main part analyzes the historical background, the failure of soft power diplomacy, the critique of EU Progress Reports, and specific case studies like the Mor Gabriel monastery dispute.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Turkey, European Union, Syriacs, Seyfo, human rights, minority rights, and the Copenhagen Criteria.
How is the situation of the Syriac minority currently portrayed?
The work argues that the Syriac community faces ongoing systemic discrimination, property seizures, and threats to their cultural preservation, despite Turkey's democratization efforts.
What is the significance of the Mor Gabriel monastery case?
The case represents a critical example of the Turkish state's legal pressure on Christian institutions, effectively serving as a test case for Turkey's commitment to minority religious freedom.
What is the author's conclusion regarding Turkey's "bridge" function?
The author argues that the "bridge" narrative is often used by Turkey as a strategic tool to avoid clear alignment with European values, and that the country needs to make a firm commitment to human rights instead.
- Quote paper
- Linda Gabriel, B.A. (Author), 2011, The EU Accession of Turkey as a Chance for Human Rights and Minorities?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/177179
