The Bridge That Widens the Gap
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The Bridge that Widens the Gap Critical Geopolitical research concerning the construction of post-colonial EU-Turkey relations Richard Huttinga 2 The Bridge that Widens the Gap Critical Geopolitical research concerning the construction of post-colonial EU-Turkey relations Masterthesis Human geography Specialization: ‘Europe: borders, identities and governance’ Richard Huttinga S0725749 Nijmegen, June 2013 Thesis supervisor: dr. O.T. Kramsch Radboud University Nijmegen 3 Acknowledgement This thesis is developed in the master Human Geography –Europe: borders, identities and governance. Studying critical geopolitics embarked the need to further deconstruct classical geopolitical narratives. Taking on this critical view on classical geopolitical theories lay bare the inconspicuous position of geopolitical Turkey and encouraged to conduct this research. I want to thank my thesis supervisor dr. Olivier T. Kramsch for his ‘spot on’ theoretical insights. As well as the supervisor of the Institute for Turkish Studies, drs. Armand Sag, for spending his time on reading and discussing this research, and for giving me the opportunity to deepen the research in the setting of the academic institute. 4 Temporary One, Fleetwood Mac Where are you darlin', when my Moon is risin', and your Sun is shinin' down What are you doin', are you Missin' me The way that I'm missin' you now The river goes on and on, and the Sea that divides us is a Temporary one, and the Bridge will bring us back together What are you doin', goin' Down in to Soho as I Get my rest tonight What are you doin', are you Busy with your world Well I wish you were busy with mine (Fleetwood Mac, 1997) 5 Table of Contents Acknowledgement.............................................................................................................................. 3 Temporary One, Fleetwood Mac....................................................................................................... 4 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Relevance...............................................................................................................................9 1.2 Structure................................................................................................................................11 2 Research Design.......................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Research goal & research question..................................................................................... 12 2.2 Legitimizing .........................................................................................................................14 2.2.1 Assembling linguistic metaphor, critical geopolitics and postcolonialism..............14 2.2.2 Research focus...............................................................................................................16 2.2.3 Importance and feasibility ........................................................................................... 17 3 Theoretical Framework ..............................................................................................................18 3.1 Metaphor analysis................................................................................................................18 3.1.1 Bamboo- and iron curtains ..........................................................................................18 3.1.2 Cognitive and conceptual metaphor .......................................................................... 20 3.1.3 Relativity of truth.......................................................................................................... 21 3.2 Critical geopolitics.............................................................................................................. 22 3.2.1 Post-structuralism, post-modernism and feminism met a revived political geography.................................................................................................................................. 22 3.2.2 Comparing apples and oranges for the sake of metaphor ........................................ 23 3.2.3 Metaphor constructing geopolitical storylines.......................................................... 24 3.2.4 Critical geopolitics and discourse,.............................................................................. 25 3.3 Post-colonial EU ................................................................................................................. 26 3.3.1 Material practices of post-colonial societies.............................................................. 26 3.3.2 Centralized Europe instigating and deterring the surrounding world.................... 27 3.3.3 Representations of exceptionality turn into a strategy of resistance....................... 29 4 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 31 4.1 Defining metaphor .............................................................................................................. 31 4.2 Analyzing metaphor ........................................................................................................... 32 4.3 Research material ............................................................................................................... 34 5 Analyzing Representations of Geopolitical Turkey................................................................. 36 5.1 Bridge................................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.1 Not solely presented in a uniform way ...................................................................... 37 5.1.2 The function of connecting......................................................................................... 37 5.1.3 Two separated points...................................................................................................40 5.1.4 Bridgeable obstacle.......................................................................................................41 5.2................................................................................................................................................... 43 5.2 Turkey as object of use....................................................................................................... 43 5.2.1 Gate, key and hub ........................................................................................................ 43 5.2.2 Metaphors characterized by their negative connotation..........................................48 5.3 Turkey incorporating initiative ......................................................................................... 53 5.3.1 Turkey the crossroad and pivot .................................................................................. 53 5.3.2 Turkey the role model and mediator ......................................................................... 55 5.3.3 Turkey the regional power and major player ............................................................ 58 6 6 The discursive postcolonial notions of EU-Turkey relations; dominant actors and periods61 6.1 Metaphors presented in a conscious way ......................................................................... 62 6.1.1 Shifting ratios in a post-Cold War world ................................................................... 62 6.1.2 Diversity and inconsistency ........................................................................................ 63 6.2 Dominant actors ................................................................................................................. 65 6.3 Trends and important periods........................................................................................... 67 6.3.1 9/11................................................................................................................................. 67 6.3.2 Neo-Ottomanism.........................................................................................................68 6.3.3 Influential dates ........................................................................................................... 70 7 The discursive postcolonial notions of EU-Turkey relations; modes- and sources of differentiation ................................................................................................................................... 72 7.1 Modes of differentiation..................................................................................................... 72 7.1.1 Turkey as borderland................................................................................................... 72 7.1.2 East vs. West ................................................................................................................ 73 7.1.3 Religion as denominator of digital borders ............................................................... 77 7.1.4 The presentation of Turkey’s physical borders.......................................................... 79 7.2 Source of differentiation .................................................................................................... 82 7.2.1 Turkey deriving power initiative by moving away from the EU .............................. 82 7.2.2 The fundamental need of being in control ...............................................................