"Lessons learned: Cooperation of EU member states in limiting ethnic conflict"

Gokcek, Gulriz Gigi. (2003) "Lessons learned: Cooperation of EU member states in limiting ethnic conflict". In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 2003 (8th), March 27-29, 2003, pages 49, Nashville, TN.

Abstract

The layout of the paper is as follows. First, a background will be provided on the reasons why ethnic conflicts spread from one country to another in the first place. This, of course, creates not only a regional problem, but also threatens the overall security of the international community. Second, a theoretical model will be established to specify the four conditions necessary for cooperation in order to limit the spread of ethnic conflict from one state to another. Third, the study will show that the presence of these four variables is the reason behind the success of the Franco-Spanish cooperation in limiting the Basque conflict to a domestic problem inside Spain. In the fourth section, the paper will analyze the Turkey-Syrian struggle over the Kurdish conflict and illustrate that it was in the absence of the four key variables that the situation escalated nearly to inter-state war. The paper will conclude with an assessment of Turkey's current situation, in relations with its neighbors over the Kurdish conflict, and the implications that this might have for EU membership.