YOUNG MINDS RETHINKING THE MEDITERRANEAN MINDS RETHINKING YOUNG This book is a compilation of the best papers presented by participants of the first “Euro-Mediterranean Forum for Young Researchers” in the following two categories: “Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue” and “Euro-Mediterranean Relations”. YOUNG MINDS The event, which took place in Istanbul between April 13-15, 2011 was jointly organized by Global Political Trends Center (GPoT Center) of Istanbul Kültur University, Chios Institute for Mediterranean Affairs (CIMA), Center for International and European Studies (CIES) of the Kadir Has University and the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory RETHINKING of the Hellenic Centre for European Studies (EKEM). THE MEDITERRANEAN Authors: Nihan Akıncılar, Anna Alexieva, Jennifer Brindisi, Evinç Doğan, Amanda E. Rogers, Beatrice Schimmang Edited By: Mensur Akgün, Lenka Petková ISBN: 978-605-4233-66-3 YOUNG MINDS RETHINKING THE MEDITERRANEAN YOUNG MINDS RETHINKING THE MEDITERRANEAN Istanbul Kültür University Publication No. 159 ISBN: 978-605-4233-66-3 Edited by: Mensur Akgün & Lenka Peťková Proofreading: Onur Bayramoğlu & Natalie R. Chambers Prepared for publication by: Lenka Peťková Book Design and Cover: Myra Page Layout: Myra Printed by: İmak Ofset Basım Yayın San. Ve Tic. Ltd. Şti. Atatürk Cad. Göl Sok. No : 1, Yenibosna, Bahçelievler/İstanbul-Türkiye First Published: December 2011 Global Political Trends Center Istanbul Kültür University Atakoy Campus, Bakirkoy 34 156 Istanbul, Turkey I. Uluslararası İlişkiler II. Akdeniz Bölgesi Istanbul Kültür University Publisher Certificate No. 14505 Phone: +90 212 498 44 65 Fax: +90 212 498 44 05 www.gpotcenter.org Library Catalogue Details: Young Minds Rethinking The Mediterranean / ed. Mensur Akgün, Lenka Peťková. – Copyright© IKU, 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced electronically or me- chanically without the prior consent of the Global Political Trends Center (GPoT Center) and Istanbul Kültür University. The views expressed in contributions belong to the authors, and they may not necessarily concur partially or wholly with those of either GPoT Center or IKU. YOUNG MINDS RETHINKING THE MEDITERRANEAN INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS BY Nihan Akıncılar Anna Alexieva Jennifer Brindisi Evinç Doğan Amanda E. Rogers Beatrice Schimmang EDITED BY Mensur Akgün Lenka Peťková Contents FOREWORD Global Political Trends Center of Istanbul Kültür University 7 Chios Institute for Mediterranean Affairs 9 Euro-Mediterranean Observatory of the Hellenic Centre for European Studies 11 Center for International and European Studies of Kadir Has University 12 ESSAYS BY PARTICIPANTS OF THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN FORUM FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS The Europeanization of Minority Rights in Turkey: A Comparison with the Greek Case By Nihan Akıncılar 15 The Traumatic Heritage: Images of the Oriental within Bulgarian Culture By Anna Alexieva 29 European Cultural Identity and Its Impact on Turkey’s Bid for EU Membership By Jennifer Brindisi 48 City as Spectacle: The Festivalization of Culture in Contemporary Istanbul By Evinç Doğan 69 Art History and the War on Terror: Foregrounding the Symbolic in Debates on Religious Extremism By Amanda E. Rogers 94 Change and Continuity, Two Faces of the Same Coin: The Development of the EU’s Mediterranean Policy By Beatrice Schimmang 118 ABOUT THE AUTHORS 143 6 Young Minds Rethinking the Mediterranean Foreword 7 FOREWORD Throughout history, much has been written on why wars and crises occur and why human beings kill each other or are often so ready to do so. While some blame human nature, state structures or the anarchic order within the international system, others hold prejudices and the “othering” or dehumanizing of those different from us as being responsible. The region in which we live has particularly suffered a great deal from these violent processes. Nationalist ideologies, most of which were defined in opposition to one another, alienated “others,” abstracted them from their humanity, and made them subject to various kinds of tyranny. Turks, Bulgarians, Greeks and many others had their share in this process of mutual alienation. Across the Euro-Mediterranean region throughout history immigrations have been imposed, publics extorted, crises fomented, and interventions and wars suffered through. The study in your hands sheds light on the processes of “othering” and alienation in large part responsible for this troubled history. It serves as a tool through which the past and the future can be understood. And it examines prejudice, the largest obstacle facing Turkey on its path to EU membership, while touching on various issues such as minority rights, the notion of culture, the role of symbols and other visual images in politics, the narration of culture within the capitalist order and its political outcomes, and finally the EU’s Mediterranean politics. As mentioned in our partners’ prefaces, this book comprises six articles written by young researchers who shared their unique visions of the Mediterranean region during the first Euro-Mediterranean Forum for Young Researchers in Istanbul organized by Global Political Trends Center (GPoT Center) of Istanbul Kültür University, Chios Institute for Mediterranean Affairs (CIMA), the Hellenic Centre for European Studies (EKEM), and the Center for International and European Studies (CIES) of the Kadir Has University in April 2011. The authors of this publication interpret and analyze issues relevant to two particular Forum categories, i.e. “Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue” and “Euro- Mediterranean Relations”. While the book has considerable academic value, it more importantly unveils these researchers’ “anti-othering” approaches to 8 Young Minds Rethinking the Mediterranean Euro-Mediterranean affairs, their perception and understanding of the world they live in, and their willingness to change it. On behalf of GPoT Center of Istanbul Kültür University, we are most delighted to publish this book and share the ideas and viewpoints of these young minds from various countries. We believe this publication will serve to help spread the writers’ visions of reconciliation and peace to societies in the region. We hope that you will also think likewise while reading it. Mensur Akgün, Director & Lenka Peťková, Project Assistant Global Political Trends Center of Istanbul Kültür University Foreword 9 The Euro-Mediterranean Forum for Young Researchers could not possibly have been a more timely initiative. Launched in May 2010 by the Chios Institute for Mediterranean Affairs (CIMA), a non-governmental, non-profit association of Greek law with headquarters on Chios island, a few miles off the Turkish city of Izmir, the Forum was, since its origins a truly joint undertaking between leading Greek and Turkish universities and research centers: CIMA and the Hellenic Centre for European Studies on the Greek side; and Centre for International and European Studies of the Kadir Has University as well as the Global Political Trends Center of the Istanbul Kültür University on the Turkish side. The close cooperation between Greek and Turkish academic institutions on this occasion sets an example to be followed by the whole Mediterranean region. Yet, the Arab revolutions were to give a new meaning and dimension to this event. Indeed, the momentous events in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere brought a series of interrogations: what are the deep causes and likely consequences of these social movements? Should a certain “Turkish model” of cooperation between the religious and public spheres be emulated in the rest of the Arab world? Is a domino effect on the rest of the region a possible scenario? How should the international community react when authoritarian regimes oppress and kill civilians? What are the implications for the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean? A mere three months after President Ben Ali fled the country, the Istanbul Forum provided a platform for 120 doctoral students and researchers from 40 countries to debate these issues, discuss and get feedback on their ongoing research, find new partners for research projects and learn about publication opportunities in the Mediterranean, thanks to the kind cooperation of two influential scientific reviews: Mediterranean Politics and the International Journal of Euro-Mediterranean Studies. I am delighted to present to you the best six articles on Euro-Mediterranean relations as well as on intercultural and inter-faith dialogue discussed during the Forum. These articles were selected by a jury of five members composed of Dr. Maria Gianniou (Greece), researcher at the Hellenic Centre for European Studies; Dr. Dimitrios Triantaphyllou (Greece), Assistant Professor at Kadir Has University and Director of the Centre for International and European Studies; Dr. Mensur Akgün (Turkey), Director of the Global Political Trends Center of Istanbul Kültür University; Dr. Münevver Cebeci (Turkey), Assistant 10 Young Minds Rethinking the Mediterranean Professor at the European Union Center of the Marmara University; and Dr. Andreas von Staden (Germany), Assistant Professor at the University of St. Gallen and Member of the Scientific Board of the Chios Institute for Mediterranean Affairs. I also hope the next issue of the Istanbul Forum will continue to increase our understanding of Euro-Mediterranean dynamics, thereby providing decision- makers with accurate analyses, without which there can be no genuine political change. Mathieu Rousselin, Forum Coordinator Former