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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Terminology
- Syriacs
- Genocide and its recognition
- Seyfo
- Historical background
- Dhimmi and Millet System
- The Ottoman Empire
- „Seyfo\" - The genocide of 1914/15
- The Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne
- Emigration due to Kurdish Conflict as 2nd ethnic cleansing
- Turkey as a bridge between Orient and Occident?
- Turkey's application for EU membership
- The Copenhagen Criteria
- Soft power politics as a solution?
- Developments outlined in the EU Progress Report 2010
- Developments with regard to the Syriac community
- Mor Gabriel
- Turkish TV shows and minority rights
- Other developments according to ESU
- Coming to terms with the past - Turkey as a strong partner for Europe?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis examines the potential impact of Turkey's EU accession on human and minority rights, with a particular focus on the Syriac community. It aims to demonstrate that Turkey's past, including the recognition of the genocide against Christians, must be acknowledged for a successful accession.
- Turkey's historical relationship with minority groups, particularly Syriacs, and the historical context of the genocide
- The impact of the Ottoman Empire and its policies on Syriac communities
- The role of human and minority rights in Turkey's EU accession process
- The analysis of EU criteria and their relevance to Turkey's situation
- The potential for positive change in Turkey's human rights policy through EU accession talks
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of Turkey's EU accession and its implications for human and minority rights, focusing on the historical context of the genocide against Christians and the ongoing discrimination against non-Muslims. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the past for future progress.
- Terminology: This chapter provides definitions and historical background on the terms "Syriacs," "genocide," and "Seyfo," highlighting the relevance of these concepts to the thesis.
- The Ottoman Empire: This chapter examines the historical background of the Ottoman Empire's policies and its impact on minority groups, specifically focusing on the genocide of 1914/15 and its consequences for the Syriac community. It analyzes the role of the Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne in shaping the current situation and the ongoing discrimination faced by Syriacs.
- Turkey as a bridge between Orient and Occident?: This chapter explores the historical and cultural significance of Turkey as a bridge between the East and West, analyzing its potential role in promoting understanding and cooperation between different cultures.
- Turkey's application for EU membership: This chapter examines the key criteria for EU membership and Turkey's compliance with them, focusing on the Copenhagen Criteria and the EU's approach to human and minority rights. It analyzes the role of soft power politics in the accession process and evaluates the progress made by Turkey in fulfilling the EU's demands.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work centers around key themes such as human rights, minority rights, genocide, EU accession, Turkey, Syriac community, historical context, Ottoman Empire, Seyfo, Copenhagen Criteria, soft power politics, and the potential for change in Turkey's human rights policy.
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- Linda Gabriel, B.A. (Autor:in), 2011, The EU Accession of Turkey as a Chance for Human Rights and Minorities?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/177179
