Eurovision OMFG

[Hunchman801]

Not sure if this is a stupid question or not... But why is Israel in a competition literally named Eurovision?

That's actually a good question, so I looked up the answer and it appears that Eurovision has always been open to countries that are members of the European Broadcasting Union, which includes lots of countries outside geographical Europe... and also excludes partly European countries such as Kazakhstan. According to Wikipedia, its boundaries "have their origin in the regions served and linked by telegraphy cables in the 19th and early 20th centuries". Oddly specific!

But it doesn't stop here. Looks like Australia has participated in every edition since 2015.

Edit: PluM beat me to it.

For many things Israël and Turkey partake in european stuff. Turkey because 0.00698% of their land is actually in Europe and Israël due to lobbying and feeling that they're more acclimated to western values.

We can also add that while the definition of geographical Europe seems to be well agreed upon, it is distinct from that of "cultural Europe". Countries like Cyprus and Armenia are not part of geographical Europe, but they are considered culturally European. Conversely, Eastern Thrace is in Europe, but arguably more distant from a cultural standpoint.

That said, Israel doesn't seem to be included in either definition.

[Rsandee]

Knowing full well that this could be perceived as anti-semitic: Moroccanoil is an Israeli company and an official sponsor of Eurovision, so I think it's easy to see why criticism against Eurovision's policy concerning Israel isn't very appreciated by the board/monied interests.

It's not that I have a particular disdain for Israel, it's that I just don't like anti-democratic practices/lobbying and corruption. I also don't think it's a problem whether Australia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia or Azerbaijan are in Eurovision, in fact the only reason I think having Israel in it is a problem is because they're actively perpetrating a war/genocide and conquering Palestine. So: for me it's not really about topography, but more about shared values of democracy and freedom.

[Hunchman801]

It's not that I have a particular disdain for Israel, it's that I just don't like anti-democratic practices/lobbying and corruption. I also don't think it's a problem whether Australia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia or Azerbaijan are in Eurovision, in fact the only reason I think having Israel in it is a problem is because they're actively perpetrating a war/genocide and conquering Palestine. So: for me it's not really about topography, but more about shared values of democracy and freedom.

Just a heads-up that, so as to avoid derailing this thread and keep it focused on Eurovision, I have "forked" the discussion here.

[PluMGMK]

That's actually a good question, so I looked up the answer and it appears that Eurovision has always been open to countries that are members of the European Broadcasting Union, which includes lots of countries outside geographical Europe... and also excludes partly European countries such as Kazakhstan. According to Wikipedia, its boundaries "have their origin in the regions served and linked by telegraphy cables in the 19th and early 20th centuries". Oddly specific!

Oh OK, it's about cables, not about a rectangle on the Mercator Well, glad to be finally corrected on that!

But it doesn't stop here. Looks like Australia has participated in every edition since 2015.

Aye, there's the rub! I think they were added, along with the US, for a special anniversary edition, but for some reason never left!