Abstract:

Identity that has significant impact on the decisions that individuals make in their daily lives, reveals the group identity to which individuals contribute to its formation as an effect of social life. Groups based on similarities use differences to distinguish themselves from other groups and highlighting these differences brings about both inter-group competition and identity changes over time. Depending on the place and position of the emerging group identities in society, some identities become dominant while others possess a subordinate position. Minorities are related with these subordinated identities and they may need to be recognized by special arrangements and protected within the framework of this recognition due to their differences compared to the dominant groups. It is a problematic for international relations discipline that whether these subordinated groups that are composed by religion or ethnic based minorities, have an impact on both domestic and foreign policies of the states. Within this framework, this study aims to examine the impact of identity for minority groups through the Western Thrace minority group and its effects on the bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey.

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