Identity Clash of the European Union and Turkey

This book aims to analyze the common cultural values §that hold the EU together. The effect of European §identity on Turkey EU relationship is examined. §The EC was founded because of economic expectations §but with the end of the Cold War and break down of §East Europe from the USSR, identity issues began to §rise as a consequential subject. The satisfaction in §the economic expectations resulted with the increase §in the authority of the EU as a supranational §organization. At present, EU has twenty seven §members. Therefore, a common culture is needed to §hold the union together and to create a sense of §belonging to the EU. The influence of historical and §religious values on forming a European identity is §examined. How does Europe perceive Turks throughout §history? Why does European Union hesitate to embrace §Turkey? What diversifies Turkey from the EU in the §cultural aspect? The effect of cultural values on §Turkey EU relationship is analyzed. The discourses §of important political leaders and thinkers on the §importance of common cultural heritage and their §comments on Turks and Turkey s membership process §are presented.