EU genom spegeln Turkiet – en studie av identitetskonstruktion i EUs diskurs om ett turkiskt EU- medlemskap

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this thesis is to analyze how the EU is constructed discursively in their discourse about a possible Turkish EU-membership. This is done by drawing upon Torben Bech Dyrbergs (1997) theory on how identities are constructed relationally thorough the logic of difference and equivalence. The empirical material consists of progress reports released by the European Commission, and by speeches held by the former European Commissioner for Enlargement, Mr. Štefan Füle. My conclusion is that two collective identities are created– one Turkish and one identity connected to the EU. These two are constructed relationally and can consequently be seen as effects of each other, where ”the other” is needed in order for the ”self” to exist. By studying how chains of equivalence are constructed in the discourse I conclude that the Turkish identity is given meaning by constructing it as undemocratic, old-fashioned, dependent, patriarchal and aggressive. The EU-identity is on the other hand constructed as the opposite, through the equivalence chain of democratic, modern, role model, equal and peaceful.