Between 'cultural richness' and 'useful enemy': the securitization and instrumentalization of Christians in Turkey

Sandal, Nukhet and Öztürk, Ahmet Erdi (2024) Between 'cultural richness' and 'useful enemy': the securitization and instrumentalization of Christians in Turkey. Turkish Studies. pp. 1-24. ISSN 1743-9663

Abstract

This article employs interviews and primary and secondary sources to examine the discrimination, securitization, and instrumentalization faced by four main Christian denominations throughout Turkish history: the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Protestant communities. We shed light on how some religious minority groups have been utilized and represented within the framework of Turkish diplomacy and the pursuit of neo-Ottomanism. We contend that the blanket term ‘Christian’ is less applicable in Turkey's context, where religion becomes intricately intertwined with ethnicity. Thus, it becomes imperative to investigate each non-Muslim community independently, considering their unique trajectories, historical traumas, internal divisions, and relationships with the state.

Details
Record
View Item View Item