IES Lecture Series: "Rethinking Turkish Identity on the Road to the European Union"

IES Lecture Series on European Identity: "Rethinking Turkish Identity on the Road to the European Union." Lecture by Dr. Saime Ozcurumez, Centre for European Studies at the Middle East Technical University, Ankara. Aula E.0.04

Turkish Scholar’s Perspective on Identity Issues

For the fifth presentation in the Spring Lecture Series on European Identity, IES welcomed Dr Saime Ozcurumez currently at the Centre for European Studies at Middle East Technical University in Ankara but who will soon take up an assistant professorship at another university .

Dr Ozcurumez started by giving an historical perspective on post-Ottoman Turkey following the first World War and the evolution of notions of Turkish identity with the advent of Kemalism. This was based largely on concepts of identity in France, that is a unitary state, albeit with multiple layers of identity. She explained some of the theory of identity building, the idea of civic nationalism (based on territory and inclusiveness) and the ethnic conception of nationalism (based on blood which is ascriptive and exclusive). She went on to describe the development in the 1923 Turkish constitution, with its notions of westernisation and secularism with Islam being removed from the state institutions and public life.. There was a movement towards a common history and language with Anatolia as the Motherland and the introduction of the Latin alphabet. Kemal Ataturk’s aim was to create a balanced approach to identity building, how people can live together. This was embodied in the notion that “happy is he who calls himself a Turk”. Dr Ozcurumez said that at this stage of Turkish history the West was both admired and contested. The 1924 constitution’s key article 88 which indicated that all are citizens of the Turkish Republic without reference to religion or race, whilst the 1982 constitution bonded everyone to Turkey though citizenship. This was particularly aimed at gender equality. The present constitution introduced the notion of “supra-identity that would cover all identities”, the discourse centring on whether Turkey is a “mosaic” or an “ebro”, an art form where the colours are mixed together. The present constitution is pluralistic, participatory and with equal rights for all. Turning to the accession process after the Treaty of Maastricht, she said that a further layer had been added namely the notion of European citizenship and EU requirements in terms of human rights have come to the fore. The policy venue and the priorities were to be henceforth, though not exclusively, the EU.

Dr Ozcurumez stressed that the issues in Turkey on the road to accession were no longer constitutional but the more global questions of tackling poverty, unemployment and corruption. Asked about the reported rise in nationalism or euro-scepticism on the part of the Turkish public, she described the phenomenon as “euro-fatigue” which is not necessarily the same thing. The perspective of a ten year negotiation process with inevitable ups and downs is a long one. She was also questioned about the role of Turkey as a bridge between Europe and the Islamic world. Explaining that there was not just one kind of Islam, she said that reconciliation is a huge task in the present state of world affairs but one that suits Turkey.

Saime Ozcurumez’ presentation was both thoughtful and learned and helped the audience to place Turkey in the spectrum of European integration.

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