Turkey: A Cultural Bridge Between

Turkey: A Cultural Bridge between East and West

Key features of Turkey's unique identity

The most noteworthy characteristic of Turkey is that it does indeed constitute a cultural bridge between the West and the East. It integrates elements of both western modernity as well as eastern traditionalism. From this standpoint, Turkey, it could be said, finds itself at a cross roads between long standing traditions and the process of globalization from the west, which is making its presence incrementally felt.

Another element of unique Turkish identity is given by the geographic location in a region rich in cultural as well as military conflicts. A relevant example in this sense is offered by the country's relationship with the Kurds, which are sometimes enemies in armed conflicts, and other times, welcomed as refugees (Eller, p.143). Aside the Kurds however, Turkey "is an amalgam of various Muslim ethnic groups, including Kurds as well as Bosniacs, Albanians, Circassians, Georgians, Greek-speaking Muslims and ethnic Turks, among others" (Cagaptay). This myriad of ethnicities constitutes yet another key determinant in the analysis of the Turkish identity.

In light of these rich and diverse values of Turkish identity, a question is being posed relative to the dominant cultural values. In order to support the EU accession process, the Turks focused primarily on a democratic stand which embraces western values. Yet, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the country found it more and more difficult to further distance itself from its Muslim roots (Tank, p.463).

2. The role of religion in the Turkish society

The large majority of the Turks -- namely an estimated 99.8 per cent of the entire population -- seems to belong to the Muslim religion, mostly Sunni. The remaining people belong to several minorities, out of which Christianity and Judaism are the most popular (Central Intelligence Agency). At a formal level, Turkey is recognized as a secular state -- this basically means that it does not assume any religion as a state religion; additionally, the country allows religious freedom to all citizens. Finally, as a secular state, religion plays a limited role in the political decision making process.

While it has not been mentioned throughout the previous section, Turkey is the only democratic state in which most citizens belong to the Muslim religion -- and this also constitutes an intriguing aspect of unique Turkish identity. "Religious influence is also largely minimised in the public sphere, and religion no longer holds the same importance in people's lives as it used to. Today Muslim countries and societies are in the focal point of political observations as the religion seems to be the main obstacle on the way to a sustainable democracy and promotion of human rights. Turkey is the only democratic country among the Muslim countries which prescribes laicite [secular in French] in its constitution" (Gokhan).

3. The potential of religion and ethnicity on political cooperation / conflict in Turkey

While the country has made significant efforts in the direction of democratization and westernization through globalization, fact remains that it continues to carry on its traditional eastern values. In other words, despite the secular aspect and the increased focus on human rights and democracy, the ethnical and religious issues could still lead to internal conflicts or they could constitute basis for national collaborations. All in all, Turkey is once again western through democracy, but eastern through its identity elements.

4. Impact on Turkey's development and the relations with the United States, Europe and the Middle East

An interesting element at this stage is constituted by the undying desire of Turkey to adhere to the European Union. On the one hand, the country perceives this adherence as a natural step in the historical process and continually prepares for the entrance to the community. Yet, most members of the EU fear the inclusion of Turkey within the community's structures. The main arguments, while they have suffered modifications through time, refer to the different cultural values (including both religion as well as ethnicity) in Turkey and in Europe (Gole). In other words, there is the perception that Islam and other Middle East resembling features would not be adequately integrated within the European Union.

The same features are observable in the relationship with the United States, with the specification that the reticence of the North American country could even be more intense than the reticence of the European Union. And this is true even more so now, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and during the ongoing war on terrorism. Before these conflicts had emerged, the U.S., much like the E.U., was willing to perceive Turkey as a democratic state, implementing western values. Their perception, and as such the relations with these regions, suffered with the realization of the Muslim roots.

Unfortunately enough for Turkey, its relations with the Middle East stand to face loses as its relations with the west improve, or as the country intensifies its efforts in the respective direction. This state of events is explicable through the long standing cultural and political tensions between the two global regions.