Otherness in Turkish-Greek Relations: Continuity and Change in the Political Discourse (1996-1999)
Tez Türü: Doktora
Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Siyaset Bilimleri ve Uluslararası ilişkiler, Türkiye
Tez Danışmanı: Doç. Dr. Çiğdem Nas
Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2020
Tezin Dili: İngilizce
Özet:
In the social sciences, especially in the field of Political Science and International Relations, following the 1990s, multidisciplinary trends that have accelerated interdisciplinary scientific studies have begun to be seen frequently. These multifaceted systematic approaches have gradually influenced the disciplines in terms of providing depth and a wide range of analysis to scientific studies. Thus, like in the other disciplines, the framework of IR has also expanded and the principle of choosing only the state apparatus or state-based formations as the unit of study has been abandoned. In this process, Constructivism, which constitutes the basis of this study, made a groundbreaking contribution in terms of providing a middle way to theoretical debates; It has added a third dimension to the mainstream theories that evaluate identities as given and permanent and that do not find them worth concrete scientific studies due to their lack of providing explanations by the analysis of material elements, and to post-modern theories that confine identity studies within its boundaries.
In this dissertation, the speeches given by the members of the ruling and opposition parties in the Turkish and Greek Parliaments were investigated comparatively with the method of interpretive discourse analysis. This study reveals the importance of intangible elements at least as much as the tangible elements, in Turkish-Greek relations, which play a crucial role in the perception, interpretation, and making decisions about political developments. Empirical findings based on the study of 3 different political developments (involving the state of war, conflict, and peace, respectively) that took place between the two countries within the years of 1996-1999 are as follows: Firstly, discourses are more effective than actions in the construction of national identity. Accordingly, discourses and narratives are decisive in the establishment and spread of social realities. Secondly, the self and other mutually and continually build each other, but it takes time to notice a continuity or change in the patterns of construction. Thirdly, nationalism and religion are influential in the strong marginalization used in the separation of peoples who have lived fused for centuries. Fourthly, two basic justifications are made so that othering can be adopted by all segments of society: Finding a legal basis and / or creating a historical background. As a result of employing interpretive discourse analysis, this study attempts to examine the main elements of self/other constructions, and whether there is a continuity or change in the identity approaches of the parties towards each other and the reasons for which the existing changes occurred are envisaged.