The EU Accession of Turkey as a Chance for Human Rights and Minorities?

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

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.