AbstractsPhilosophy & Theology

The purpose of this project is to analyze the Turkish and European identity and thereby how and if they will create a clash when they collide. Furthermore, it enables the researchers to see the possible consequences of the clash, where the project strives to answer the question how a hypothetical accession of Turkey could affect the European Union. Taking it to a political level, an argument is made about the underlying reason for the European Union’s reluctance to embrace Turkey. It argues that the prolong negotiation between the European Union and Turkey is due to the differences in religion and culture. The project’s main theory, The Clash of Civilizations by Huntington is used as an analytical tool to provide an investigation of the clash between the Turkish and the European civilizations. Furthermore, the theory of National Identity and the Idea of a European Unity by Anthony Smith was implemented on the investigation for defining the identity of Turkey and Europe. The theory of neo-liberalism and the term eurocentrism is used in the project in order to understand and explain why the European Union feel superior, regarding their Western values and why they are not accepting Turkey, that is from another civilization as a member of the Union. The project proves that the underlying reason for Turkey still not being accepted in the European Union is regarded to the clash of civilizations that has affected the accession process. Thus, the European Union is anxious when it comes to Turkey’s accession because the consequences of it make the enlargement uncertain. ! !