The Concept of a European Identity. Does Turkey culturally fit to Europe?

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2014 , 16 Pages , Grade: 1,7

Politics - Region: Near East, Near Orient

For more than 50 years, Turkey is waiting at the gates of the European Union (EU). Already in 1963 the European Economic Community (EEC) and Turkey joined an association agreement,
the so-called Ankara Agreement, establishing a common customs union. Since then the country strives for a full membership in the EU, in October 2005 the accession negotiations officially began. Ever since an open debate prevailed within the EU on whether Turkey really belongs in the community or not. Reports of honor killings, forced marriages, restricted freedom of expression and freedom of the press or even the recent Gezipark protests heated up the debate
among politicians, EU citizens as well as the media. In addition to economic, political, geographic and geostrategic arguments for and against the accession of Turkey, especially one issue is highly debated: Does the Turkey culturally fit in the EU?

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The European Identity
  • The Uniqueness: Historical Heritage and Christianity
  • The Other
  • The Nation-state and Secularism
• The Public Opinion on a Turkish Membership
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to explore the concept of European identity in the context of Turkey's accession bid to the European Union. It analyzes the core components of the EU's self-understanding, focusing on the elements of uniqueness, the concept of the "Other," and the relationship between nation-state and secularism. The work also examines public opinion within the EU regarding Turkey's membership, specifically the potential role of cultural differences.

• The evolving concept of European identity
• The role of cultural differences in EU enlargement
• The impact of Turkey's predominantly Muslim society on EU identity
• Public opinion in the EU regarding Turkish membership
• The interplay between national and European identities

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: The introductory chapter highlights the ongoing debate within the EU concerning Turkey's membership, particularly the question of cultural compatibility. It emphasizes the role of historical, religious, and social factors in shaping the perception of Turkey's place within the European community.
• The European Identity: This chapter delves into the concept of European identity, exploring its key components. It examines the significance of historical heritage, Christianity, and the notion of the "Other" in shaping the EU's self-understanding. The chapter also analyzes the role of the nation-state and secularism in the formation of European identity.
• The Public Opinion on a Turkish Membership: This section explores public opinion within the EU regarding Turkey's accession, drawing on data from the Special Eurobarometer. It examines the extent to which cultural differences influence perceptions of Turkish membership and analyzes the level of acceptance or skepticism among EU citizens.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The core keywords and focus topics of this paper include European identity, cultural differences, Turkish accession, public opinion, EU enlargement, nation-state, secularism, and the concept of the "Other." The work explores the relationship between these concepts and how they contribute to shaping perceptions of Turkey's place within the EU.

• College: University of Frankfurt (Main)
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Anonym (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 16
• Catalog Number: V275938
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656688686
• ISBN (Book): 9783656688679
• Language: English
• Tags: concept, european, identity, does, turkey, europe