Understanding The Factors That Shaped The Negative Image Of Turks In Europe And Its Effects On Turkey’s EU Membership

Year 2014, Volume: 4 Issue: 7, - , 10.03.2014

Serpil Öztürk

https://doi.org/10.17828/yasbed.72103

Abstract

The prospect of Turkey’s entry into EU has triggered intense identity-based discussions.The evaluation of Turkey’s possible membership within the context of its distinctivecharacter has generated strong antagonism in European countries especially in those whoshare large Turkish populations. This antagonism is rooted in the negative image of Turks,which has shaped the European’s opinions about Turks. There are intertwined factors thatplayed essential role: The historical image of the Turks together with the widespread beliefregarding Turkish migrant’s integration ‘failures’ reflects the negative image of the Turksin the mind of Europeans. The common attitudes of the Turkish communities towardssome values that European identity based on such as gender equality have shaped theEuropeans opinions which is increasingly concerned with the issue. Turkish community’sapproach thus stimulates the fears of Europeans regarding Turkey’s entry, which in turndecrease in support for Turkey

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