Alexandroupolis, Book Presentation of Anna Karamanou
Europe and Women’s Rights.
Europeanization in Greece and Turkey.
Comparative Analysis
Book Presentation of Anna Karamanou.
Municipal Library of Alexandroupolis, Monday, March 5, 2018.
Warm thanks to everyone who contributed to this high-quality event.
The writing of this book was driven by my curiosity to investigate and discover the driving forces behind the peaceful revolution of women, which began in the 19th century and continues to this day, in Greece and Turkey. The originality of the book lies in the fact that it examines two neighboring countries in the periphery that did not participate in the Renaissance and the European Enlightenment, yet both claim European identity.
My goal is, through an exciting journey into the historical events and political milestones of the last 200 years, to highlight, analyze, and compare the impact of the European system and European values in the two countries. Through the struggles of women and the historical events connected to Europe, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the conditions and common elements that shaped the political, social, cultural, and economic reality of both countries. The comparative analysis showed that, beyond geographical proximity, there is a cultural kinship between Greece and Turkey, which is, among other things, evidenced by the popularity of Turkish TV series in Greece!
The research maintains a dynamic relationship between theory, empirical study, and comparative political analysis. It is essentially three books in one package because, curiously, I wanted to include all of them in a single volume. Thus, the first chapter/book includes the basic theoretical framework and the political agenda of Europeanization, feminist theories, political philosophical schools, methodological approaches, and European gender equality policy from the Treaty of Rome to the present.
The second chapter examines the historical evolution in Greece from 1821 to the present. It explores the influence of the European Enlightenment, the role of diaspora intellectuals and the Anonymous Greek, highlights the struggle of pioneering women and the first feminist organizations, examines the legacy of Ottoman rule and the influence of the East, and presents key actions and texts from the early women’s magazines. It also includes authentic dialogues of intellectuals and speeches in Parliament, illustrating the atmosphere of the time and the prevailing views of the 19th century.
The role of the dominant religion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, is also examined, in the same way that the role of Islam in Turkey is explored. The modern European course of Greece and its diplomatic efforts to join the European state system are analyzed as the modern Great Idea. The role and actions of the feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s are discussed, along with the theoretical disputes and the influence of the ideas of May 1968.
The reforms and the Europeanization of legislation after the fall of the junta of the colonels and after Greece’s accession to the European Community (1981) are noted. I focus on key factors/indicators of the status of women and the Europeanization of legislation in civil, labor, and criminal law, as well as in the fields of education, employment, violence against women, and participation in politics and the trade union movement.
The third chapter is dedicated to the fate of women in Turkey. I trace the roots and analyze the social context of European influence in the 19th century, Kemalist modernization/Europeanization in the 20th century, women’s policies, and state feminism. The social and political role of Islam, the injunctions of the Quran, and its various interpretations are examined. I explore the patriarchal/Islamic/Mediterranean culture as the causal phenomenon for the oppression of women, dress codes, the battle for the headscarf, forced marriages, virginity, and honor crimes.
I follow Turkey’s modern European path, the key milestones, political instability, resistance, the significant role of the European Parliament and women’s organizations, the rise of political Islam to power, major legislative changes, and contemporary policies. Finally, I present key excerpts from live discussions with figures from political and social life during the parliamentary elections of June 12, 2011 (field research) and the conclusions for the country.
The fourth chapter presents the comparative analysis/synthesis of the two cases and the conclusions of the study. The most significant similarities and differences between the two countries, as highlighted by the separate studies, are recorded and summarized. I evaluate and compare the qualitative impact of the variable “Europeanization” on gender relations, as well as quantitatively, based on comparable statistical data and with the help of Weberian ideal type methodology. This final chapter, along with the conclusions, may serve as a valuable contribution to the international dialogue on cooperation and understanding among peoples, international peace, and the use of soft power in international politics and Greek-Turkish relations.