The Anti-Turkish 'Viruses' Spreading in France

Abstract

Based on the results of several polls concerning the potential admission of Turkey into the European Union and showing that the French opinion is the most unfavorable among the European countries, this study questions the reasons that these anti-Turkish images and speeches are becoming more prevalent each day in French media. Based on examples of images of Turks taken from Franco-Ottoman relations, from certain works written by French writers, from cartoons, from recent films and the French press, the study tries to show how this anti-Turkish virus was able to take root in history and by which means it still continues today to be spread from generation to generation.