http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8553013.stm
US administration to block vote on Turkey 'genocide'
This article describes the Obama administration’s change of heart regarding their support for the declaration of the Armenian deaths during World War I by Turkish soldiers a form of genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians died from the brutality of Turkish soldiers, as well from disease and famine when the Turks deported them. During his campaign for office, Obama promised to support the ruling of genocide. However, now that the House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved the bill by a vote of 23 to 22, Secretary of State Clinton has said the administration does not support the passing of this bill. This change in resolve could stem recent Turkish statements threatening relations between the United States and Turkey if Congress and the president approve the bill. Since the Turks are a major ally in our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, we cannot afford to lose their support and friendship.
It is interesting the extent to which our decisions are based on other countries’ needs. A Turkish genocide, even one so long ago, would seriously harm Turkish standing in the international community. Therefore, because we need their support and willingness to allow the transport of oil through their borders, we must keep them happy and innocent. Constructivism suggests that social norms can affect the actions of a country, for instance, to support a humanitarian movement. However, if that movement is going to jeopardize their security in the slightest, it will never be realized. So if countries really only value their security above all else, why do social norms matter? Is it only to make them feel better about themselves? Or have social norms become a social norm and so those who do not display them have to sit by themselves in the corner of the sandbox of the international community?
I agree with you that it is important to maintain Turkey as our ally at this present time due to our involvement in Iran and Afghanistan. However I believe that it is important to recognize that their actions were essentially a genocide. While this may result in harming their aspirations to enter the E.U one should question why there is different standards for Germany, and other states like Turkey. One could argue that constructivism may be useful in explaining this, as according to constructivist theory states are based on perceptions of one another. Thus while Germany is now perceived to be a rational state, Turkey may still be considered by other states to be some what illiberal, thus causing a problem for their entry into the E.U.
ReplyDeleteI also find this situation puzzling because, as calban has mentioned, there have been different standards for Germany than for Turkey. It is important to look at the size of power that those nations hold however. While Turkey, in the time of the Ottoman empire, was powerful before WWI, it has lost most of its power in Europe and the middle east. Germany, however, was a powerful force all through out WWII, until it was defeated, and I believe that the European Union found it necessary to regulate its activities so that it would not essentially try to take over Europe again. However, Germany is very fed up with the EU regulations, and there are talks that it might soon leave the EU.
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