Research Article
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A Study on The Psycho Political Reasons for The European Union’s Policy of Integration, Security, and Peace in Europe

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 1 - 19
https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1541878

Abstract

The European Union is an international organization that has been founded, integrated, and expanded with psychological as well as economic and political effects. The union sees itself as a guarantee for the European Continent to live in peace and produces policies in international relations depending on this vision. This article explains the structural, economic, and political underpinnings of EU integration and peace while examining the implications of these phenomena on political psychology. While existing EU literature examines the economic, social, and institutional aspects of the EU and its globalization policies, there are very few studies on the political psychology, and political cultural structure of these phenomena. Therefore, this study focuses on the implications of EU integration, security, and peace policies on political psychology. The study hypothesizes that the EU's unity, integration, security, and peace policy is dependent upon socio-psychological reasons, primarily tradition, culture, power, and social structure. Moreover, the study's aim and its anticipated contribution to the literature are to present an interdisciplinary effort and contribute to intellectual discussion on EU integration and peace policies. The study on the EU's integration, security, and peace policy is delimited by the EU institutional structure and the political dynamics that constitute it.

Ethical Statement

The author(s) declared that they complied with ethical principles during the preparation of the study.

References

  • Anadolu Agency (2025). "Germany says Russia ‘testing boundaries' through drone incursions into Poland, Romania.", Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-says-russia-testing-boundaries-through-drone-incursions-into-poland-romania/3690196.
  • Arendt H. (1994). Eichmann in jerusalem: a report on the banality of evil (Revised and enlarged). New York: Penguin Books.
  • Barry, B. (2010). International society from a cosmopolitan perspective. The Cosmopolitanism Reader.
  • Bauer, M. & Trondal, J. (2015). The Administrative System of the European Union. In M. Bauer, and J. Trondal (Eds.). Palgrave Handbook of the European Administrative System (p. 1-28). London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan Press.
  • Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. (Eds.). (2020). The globalization of world politics: An introduction to international relations. Oxford university press, USA.
  • Bølstad, J. (2014). Dynamics of European integration: Public opinion in the core and periphery. European Union Politics, 16(1), 23–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116514551303.
  • De Vreese, Claes and Haj Boomgaarden (2005) ‘Projecting EU Referendums: Fear of Immigration and Support for European Integration’, European Union Politics 6(1): 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116505049608.
  • Deutschland.de (2025). “Merz: ‘Firm and unwavering’ support for Poland.”, Retrieved from https://www.deutschland.de/tr/videos/merz-firm-and-unwavering-support-for-poland.
  • Castanho Silva, B. (2018). The (Non)Impact of the 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks on Political Attitudes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44(6), 838–850. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217752118.
  • Erisen, C. (2018). Political Behavior and the Emotional Citizen: Participation and Reaction in Turkey, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • European Commission. (2024). "Eurobarometer Surveys." Retrieved from https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/.
  • European Social Survey. (2015). ESS Round 7 (2014/2015) (Data file edition 2.0, Data Archive and distributor of ESS data for ESS ERIC). Bergen: Norwegian Centre for Research Data.
  • Freud, S. (1955). Group psychology and the analysis of the ego. In The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud, James Strachey(ed). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Hall, S. (1991). “Europe’s other self”, Marxism Today, 35(1), 1991, p. 18–19. https://www.scribd.com/document/45237095/Hall-S-Europe-s-Other-Self.
  • Held, D., McGrew, A., Goldblatt, D., & Perraton, J. (1999). Global transformations: Politics, economics and culture. In Politics at the edge: The PSA yearbook 1999 (pp. 14-28). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333981689_2.
  • Hansen, R. (2002). Globalization, embedded realism, and path dependence: The other immigrants to Europe. Comparative Political Studies, 35(3), 259-283. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414002035003001.
  • Hobbes, T. (2013). Leviathan, Translate: Semih Lim, Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları.
  • Houghton, D.P. (2014). Political Psychology: Situations, Individuals, and Cases. New York: Routledge.
  • Kinnvall, C. (2002). “Nationalism, Religion and the Search for Chosen Traumas”, Ethnicities, Vol: 2, (1), p. 79–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469682002002001523.
  • Kinnvall, C., I. Manners and J. Mitzen. (2018). “Ontological (in)security in the European Union”, European Security. 27(3), p. 249–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/09662839.2018.1497977.
  • Koenig-Archibugi M. Explaining Government Preferences for Institutional Change in EU Foreign and Security Policy. International Organization. 2004;58 (1): 137-174. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818304581055.
  • Lacan, J. (2011). “Özne-ben’in İşlevinin Oluşturucusu Olarak Ayna Evresi”, Translate: Nilüfer Kuyaş, Slovaj Zizek (Ed), İdeolojiyi Haritalamak, Ankara: Dipnot, p. 143-152.
  • McDermott, R. (2004). Political Psychology in International Relations, Michigan: The University of Michigan Press.
  • McLaren, Lauren (2002) ‘Public Support for the European Union: Cost/Benefit Analysis or Perceived Cultural Threat?’ Journal of Politics, 64(12): 551–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2508.00139.
  • Manners, I. (2014). Political Psychology of European Integration. In: Nesbitt-Larking, P., Kinnvall, C., Capelos, T., Dekker, H. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Global Political Psychology. Palgrave Studies in Political Psychology Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-29118-9_15.
  • Manners, I. (2021). “Political psychology of Emotional Norms in European Foreign Policy”, Global Affairs, 7(2), p. 193-205. https://doi.org/10.1080/23340460.2021.1972819.
  • Moffitt, B. (2016). The global rise of populism: Performance, political style, and representation. Redwood City: Stanford University Press.
  • Palmowski T. and Fedorov G.M. (2020). The potential for development of Russian-Polish cross-border region. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY.;13(1):21-28. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2019-70.
  • Richards, B. (2019). The Psychology of Politics, New York: Routledge.
  • Reuters. (2025). "EU approval among its citizens hits record high as security fears grow." Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-approval-among-its-citizens-hits-record-high-security-fears-grow-poll-shows-2025-03-25/.
  • Sander, O. (2012). Siyasi Tarih 1, Istanbul: İmge Yayınevi.
  • Sirin, C., Valentino, N. A., & Villalobos, J. D. (2021). Seeing Us in Them: Social Divisions and the Politics of Group Empathy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Surowiecki, J. (2004). The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations. Doubleday.
  • Terzi, Ö., Palm, T., & Gürkan, S. (2021). Introduction: Emotion(al) norms in EUropean foreign policy. Global Affairs, 7(2), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/23340460.2021.1953394.
  • Volkan, V. (1993). Politik Psikoloji, Translate: Birsen Ceyhun ve Abdulkadir Çevik, Ankara: Ankara Üniversitesi Yayınları.
  • Volkan, V. (2001). Transgenerational Transmission and Chosen Traumas: An Aspect of Large-Group Identity, Group Analysis, Vol: 34, No: 1, p. 79–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/05333160122077730.
  • Volkan, V. (2014a). Enemies on the couch: A psychopolitical journey through war and peace. Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA).
  • Volkan, V. (2014b). Blind trust: Large groups and their leaders in times of crisis and terror. Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA).
  • Wincott, D. (2000). Globalization and European Integration. In: Hay, C., Marsh, D. (eds) Demystifying Globalization. Globalization and Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230554504_8.

Avrupa Birliği’nin Avrupa’da Entegrasyon, Güvenlik ve Barış Politikasının Psiko-Politik Nedenleri Üzerine Bir Çalışma

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 1 - 19
https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1541878

Abstract

Avrupa Birliği, ekonomik ve politik olduğu kadar psikolojik etkilerle kurulan, bütünleşen ve genişleyen bir uluslararası örgüttür. Birlik, kendisini Avrupa Kıtası’nın barış içerisinde yaşamasının bir teminatı olarak görmekte ve bu bağlamda ilgili vizyona bağlı olarak uluslararası ilişkilerde politika üretmekte ve geliştirmektedir. Bu makale, AB entegrasyonunun ve barışının hem yapısal, iktisadi ve siyasal sebeplerini ararken aynı zamanda mezkûr olguların siyaset psikolojisine dair izdüşümlerini sorgulamaktadır. Mevcut AB literatüründe AB'nin iktisadi, sosyal ve kurumsal yanları, küreselleşme politikaları işlenirken, mezkûr olguların siyaset psikolojisine, sosyal psikolojiye ve siyasal kültürel yapısına dair az sayıda çalışma bulunmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda çalışma, AB entegrasyon, güvenlik ve barış politikalarının siyasal kültür ve siyaset psikolojisine dair izdüşümlerini odak noktası yapmaktadır. Çalışmanın hipotezi, AB'nin birlik, entegrasyon, güvenlik ve barış politikasının siyasal olarak gelenek, kültür, güç ve öncelikli sosyo-psikolojik nedenlere bağlı ve dayalı olduğudur. Çalışmanın amacı ve literatüre beklenen katkısı, disiplinler arası bir çalışma sunmak ve AB entegrasyonu ve barış politikaları üzerine entelektüel bir tartışma başlatmaktır. AB'nin entegrasyon ve barış politikası üzerine çalışmanın entelektüel çabası, AB'nin kurumsal yapısı ve onu oluşturan siyasi dinamiklerle sınırlı tutulmuştur.

Ethical Statement

Yazar(lar), çalışmanın hazırlanma sürecinde etik ilkelere uyduklarını beyan etmiştir.

References

  • Anadolu Agency (2025). "Germany says Russia ‘testing boundaries' through drone incursions into Poland, Romania.", Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-says-russia-testing-boundaries-through-drone-incursions-into-poland-romania/3690196.
  • Arendt H. (1994). Eichmann in jerusalem: a report on the banality of evil (Revised and enlarged). New York: Penguin Books.
  • Barry, B. (2010). International society from a cosmopolitan perspective. The Cosmopolitanism Reader.
  • Bauer, M. & Trondal, J. (2015). The Administrative System of the European Union. In M. Bauer, and J. Trondal (Eds.). Palgrave Handbook of the European Administrative System (p. 1-28). London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan Press.
  • Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. (Eds.). (2020). The globalization of world politics: An introduction to international relations. Oxford university press, USA.
  • Bølstad, J. (2014). Dynamics of European integration: Public opinion in the core and periphery. European Union Politics, 16(1), 23–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116514551303.
  • De Vreese, Claes and Haj Boomgaarden (2005) ‘Projecting EU Referendums: Fear of Immigration and Support for European Integration’, European Union Politics 6(1): 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116505049608.
  • Deutschland.de (2025). “Merz: ‘Firm and unwavering’ support for Poland.”, Retrieved from https://www.deutschland.de/tr/videos/merz-firm-and-unwavering-support-for-poland.
  • Castanho Silva, B. (2018). The (Non)Impact of the 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks on Political Attitudes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44(6), 838–850. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217752118.
  • Erisen, C. (2018). Political Behavior and the Emotional Citizen: Participation and Reaction in Turkey, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • European Commission. (2024). "Eurobarometer Surveys." Retrieved from https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/.
  • European Social Survey. (2015). ESS Round 7 (2014/2015) (Data file edition 2.0, Data Archive and distributor of ESS data for ESS ERIC). Bergen: Norwegian Centre for Research Data.
  • Freud, S. (1955). Group psychology and the analysis of the ego. In The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud, James Strachey(ed). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Hall, S. (1991). “Europe’s other self”, Marxism Today, 35(1), 1991, p. 18–19. https://www.scribd.com/document/45237095/Hall-S-Europe-s-Other-Self.
  • Held, D., McGrew, A., Goldblatt, D., & Perraton, J. (1999). Global transformations: Politics, economics and culture. In Politics at the edge: The PSA yearbook 1999 (pp. 14-28). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333981689_2.
  • Hansen, R. (2002). Globalization, embedded realism, and path dependence: The other immigrants to Europe. Comparative Political Studies, 35(3), 259-283. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414002035003001.
  • Hobbes, T. (2013). Leviathan, Translate: Semih Lim, Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları.
  • Houghton, D.P. (2014). Political Psychology: Situations, Individuals, and Cases. New York: Routledge.
  • Kinnvall, C. (2002). “Nationalism, Religion and the Search for Chosen Traumas”, Ethnicities, Vol: 2, (1), p. 79–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469682002002001523.
  • Kinnvall, C., I. Manners and J. Mitzen. (2018). “Ontological (in)security in the European Union”, European Security. 27(3), p. 249–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/09662839.2018.1497977.
  • Koenig-Archibugi M. Explaining Government Preferences for Institutional Change in EU Foreign and Security Policy. International Organization. 2004;58 (1): 137-174. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818304581055.
  • Lacan, J. (2011). “Özne-ben’in İşlevinin Oluşturucusu Olarak Ayna Evresi”, Translate: Nilüfer Kuyaş, Slovaj Zizek (Ed), İdeolojiyi Haritalamak, Ankara: Dipnot, p. 143-152.
  • McDermott, R. (2004). Political Psychology in International Relations, Michigan: The University of Michigan Press.
  • McLaren, Lauren (2002) ‘Public Support for the European Union: Cost/Benefit Analysis or Perceived Cultural Threat?’ Journal of Politics, 64(12): 551–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2508.00139.
  • Manners, I. (2014). Political Psychology of European Integration. In: Nesbitt-Larking, P., Kinnvall, C., Capelos, T., Dekker, H. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Global Political Psychology. Palgrave Studies in Political Psychology Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-29118-9_15.
  • Manners, I. (2021). “Political psychology of Emotional Norms in European Foreign Policy”, Global Affairs, 7(2), p. 193-205. https://doi.org/10.1080/23340460.2021.1972819.
  • Moffitt, B. (2016). The global rise of populism: Performance, political style, and representation. Redwood City: Stanford University Press.
  • Palmowski T. and Fedorov G.M. (2020). The potential for development of Russian-Polish cross-border region. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY.;13(1):21-28. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2019-70.
  • Richards, B. (2019). The Psychology of Politics, New York: Routledge.
  • Reuters. (2025). "EU approval among its citizens hits record high as security fears grow." Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-approval-among-its-citizens-hits-record-high-security-fears-grow-poll-shows-2025-03-25/.
  • Sander, O. (2012). Siyasi Tarih 1, Istanbul: İmge Yayınevi.
  • Sirin, C., Valentino, N. A., & Villalobos, J. D. (2021). Seeing Us in Them: Social Divisions and the Politics of Group Empathy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Surowiecki, J. (2004). The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations. Doubleday.
  • Terzi, Ö., Palm, T., & Gürkan, S. (2021). Introduction: Emotion(al) norms in EUropean foreign policy. Global Affairs, 7(2), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/23340460.2021.1953394.
  • Volkan, V. (1993). Politik Psikoloji, Translate: Birsen Ceyhun ve Abdulkadir Çevik, Ankara: Ankara Üniversitesi Yayınları.
  • Volkan, V. (2001). Transgenerational Transmission and Chosen Traumas: An Aspect of Large-Group Identity, Group Analysis, Vol: 34, No: 1, p. 79–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/05333160122077730.
  • Volkan, V. (2014a). Enemies on the couch: A psychopolitical journey through war and peace. Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA).
  • Volkan, V. (2014b). Blind trust: Large groups and their leaders in times of crisis and terror. Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA).
  • Wincott, D. (2000). Globalization and European Integration. In: Hay, C., Marsh, D. (eds) Demystifying Globalization. Globalization and Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230554504_8.
There are 39 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects European and Region Studies, International Foundation, Political Science (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Dr. Zübeyr Şakar 0000-0003-3220-094X

Early Pub Date November 26, 2025
Publication Date November 27, 2025
Submission Date September 1, 2024
Acceptance Date November 13, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Şakar, D. Z. (2025). A Study on The Psycho Political Reasons for The European Union’s Policy of Integration, Security, and Peace in Europe. İçtimaiyat, 9(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1541878

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