Past and Present: Turkish & European Relations
Panel discussion and exhibition, 8 December 2010, Kütahya, TurkeyDim lights Embed Embed this video on your site
Following the publication of the Evliya Celebi: The Book of Travels online exhibition in Turkish, the British Council in Turkey started an Anatolia tour from Evliya's hometown Kütahya. Here, at Dumlupinar University whith its student population of 35,000, Prof Dr Güner Önce as the rector had organised a panel discussion on the topic of 'Past and Present: Turkish & European Relations'.
The discussion between Dr Murat Erdoğan from the European Studies Centre at Hacettepe University and Ottoman historian and writer Dr Caroline Finkel from the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh provided an opportunity to students to contribute to the expert discourse on European identity.
Participation was further encouraged by a series of opinion polls looking at perceptions, beliefs and concerns regarding Europe and being European. Poll responses were as follows:
- I would like Turkey to be a member of the European Union - 45% said YES
- Turkey is part of Europe - 50% said YES
- Islam also made contribution to development of Today’s European values and culture - 82% said YES
- I can identify myself as European - 24% said YES
- I believe that Turkey will become an EU member - 30% said YES
A physical version of the Book of Travels exhibition was set up at the university as well, and the event received wide media coverage. The exhibition and panels will continue their tour following the path of Evliya in Anatolia into spring 2011.
