[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Turkey and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Turkey Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to turkey@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
English
Farewell to Berkin
Fifteen-Year-Old Gezi Victim Berkin Elvan Dies After 269 Days in Coma Berkin Elvan, a teenager who has been in a coma since being hit by a police tear-gas canister during the Gezi uprising, died on 11 March.
A Loaf of Bread, a Dead Child and Turkey’s Protest Cycle After the death of Berkin Elvan, a young boy who just turned fifteen, “the fury and sadness erupted online and offline,” Zeynep Tüfekçi reports.
Turkish Police, Protesters Clash After Teen`s Death Ayla Albayrak reports that police and protesters clashed in several of Turkey`s biggest cities following the death of the teenager.
Two Million Marched During Berkin Elvan Protests as "Disproportionate Force" Probed Thousands marched for the teenager during his funeral in Istanbul on 12 March 2014, Fevzi Kızılkoyun reports.
Berkin Elvan Funeral Protests in Turkey (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Pictures from Berkin Elvan’s funeral and protests held throughout Turkey before and after his burial.
Dangerous Fault Lines Appear in Turkey (1)-(2) The moment that Berkan Elvan`s death hit the media, boycotts and protests were sparked in major cities of Turkey, Murat Yetkin relays.
Death of Teenager Sparks More Protests in Turkey The current domestic upheaval intensifies for Turkey`s prime minister with the death of a fifteen-year-old boy, writes Cengiz Çandar.
Can You Still Carry this Burden? “Elvan is now a symbol of the reaction against the ruling party`s arbitrary rule and practices,” Cafer Solgun argues.
Erdoğan`s Silence Shows Absence of Moral Compass Amberin Zaman points that Prime Minister Erdoğan has not yet expressed contrition or condolences for the death of Berkin Elvan.
Erdoğan Makes Crowd Boo Berkin Elvan’s Family Erdoğan defined Berkin Elvan as a terrorist and praised Burakcan Karamanoglu, twenty-two, who died on the night of Elvan’s funeral, as a martyr, Tülin Daloğlu reports.
They Even Call Berkin Elvan`s Death a Conspiracy Orhan Kemal Cengiz draws attention to the AKP deputies’ tweets, looking for a conspiracy, even on the day of the death of the teenager.
Turkish Politician Calls Mourners For Dead Teen "Necrophiliacs" Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s former chief negotiator and minister for European Union affairs, caused an uproar online when he posted a tweet referring to Elvan’s mourners as “necrophiliacs.”
Option Three: To Hell In A Handbasket Jenny White comments on Erdoğan’s “us versus them” discourse, last seen in the death and farewell of Berkan Elvan.
Berkin`s Funeral Confirms Turkey Is Being Psychologically Divided “The developments confirm that the government has not learnt anything from the Gezi over this nine-month period,” Murat Aksoy writes.
For Turkey It’s Deja Vu All Over Again Michael Koplow argues that the government has demonstrated that it has learned absolutely nothing from its experiences of the past year.
The Alevi Factor Taha Akyol writes that the funeral of Berkin Elvan is not a movement based upon sects or identity, yet it is true that the tendency to protest the government is stronger among Alevis.
Justice for Berkin Amnesty International’s call for Berkin Elvan before his death.
Graft Crisis and Tape Scandals
A Guide to Turkey’s Tape Scandal Ayla Albayrak presents a look at voice recordings that have received the most attention in the recent tape scandal of Turkey.
Turkey`s Facebook Status: Embattled Bloomberg, in its editorial, argues that “Erdoğan is counting on strong support in local elections to justify further extending his autocratic policies.”
Darkness at Noon (1)-(2)- Yavuz Baydar answers the questions “What kind of a country is this? What kind of leaders are they? What kind of politicians are these?”
Whoever Wins Turkey`s Power Struggle, Democracy Is Already A Casualty “As the power struggle rages, the people of Turkey feel betrayed and forsaken,” Elif Şafak writes.
Turkey`s Drama: Repeating Cycles of Authoritarian Tendencies Gökhan Bacık comments on Erdoğan’s latest television interviews where he said that the government may ban Twitter and YouTube.
The Danger Ahead Doğu Ergil argues that “the real conflict is between two worldviews that are affiliated with two different sets of values concerning politics and socio-cultural styles of life.”
Turkey’s Democracy at Risk In a op-ed piece for the Financial Times, Fethullah Gülen calls for a new constitution, doubling criticism of Prime Minister Erdoğan.
Damn this Sort of Politics! Ekrem Dumanlı, the CEO and Executive Editor-in-Chief of Zaman, comments on the tape scandals.
Moderate Islam or Democracy Osman Can contends that the source of threat is not religion, but politics.
Why Won`t Obama Extradite Gülen? Aslı Aydıntaşbaş argues that Erdoğan`s vocal campaign against Fethullah Gülen only serves to strengthen the position of the latter.
MIT, Gülen, and the Chinese Missile Defense Deal: Questions about Cyber Security Aaron Stein argues that “the current Gülen tape saga directly impacts the missile defense decision.”
Local Elections
Turkey Goes to the Ballot Box: 2014 Municipal Elections and Beyond Ali Çarkoğlu comments on sevety-two polls that have been published in newspapers or websites concerning the local elections.
The Political Significance of Local Elections Hatem Ete writes that “the Dec. 17 operation transformed the local elections into a vote of confidence for the AK Party government.”
Don’t be Surprised on Election Day Serdar Karagöz contends that the local elections are likely to approve Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government.
The Political Economy of Voter "Masochism" Cengiz Aktar discusses “how a political party can still be successful in elections though it is politically exhausted.”
Will the Elections Change Turkey? İhsan Dağı writes that the local elections will not change the government, yet it will determine the political atmosphere before the presidential election in August.
The March 30 Elections and the AK Party “If the AK Party emerges victorious in the elections, it will have invested a great deal into the presidential elections,” Taha Özhan writes.
All the PM`s Conspiracies: The End of Erdoğan Even if his party manages to scrape by in the local elections, Erdoğan has already done irreparable harm to his brand, Henri J. Barkey argues.
Power Corrupts The Times, in its editorial, argues that “Secular Turkey has a chance to punish its Prime Minister’s cronyism.”
Turkey’s Local Elections: Actors, Factors, and Implications Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) report on the 30 March local elections.
Turkish Media Overseer Says Opposition Doesn`t Get Equal Time Two members of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) complain about the government preventing access to all points of view in advance of the 30 March local elections, Tülin Daloğlu reports.
Releases in Ergenekon
Ergenekon Suspects Released Amid Chaos Over Legal Authority Between Courts Turkey has seen the release of prominent suspects in the Ergenekon coup case, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
The End of a "Dark Era" Mustafa Akyol comments on the releases in the Ergenekon coup case.
Başbuğ`s Release: Politics in the Judiciary Etyen Mahçupyan writes that “Başbuğ`s release symbolizes a turn in the political tide.”
Kurdish Question
Öcalan: The First Meeting After the Election Is Very Important BDP Group spokesperson Pervin Buldan explained the details of the recent meeting with PKK leader Öcalan on İmralı island.
First PKK Attack in Months Sets Off Alarm Bells A PKK attack on a Turkish military convoy near the Iraqi-Turkish border has many worrying, Serpil Çevikcan writes.
Other Pertinent Pieces
The AKP’s Failed Urban Strategy Feyzi Baban contends that the AKP’s municipal strategy emphasizing large-scale construction projects and urban transformation may be clashing with its focus on conservative values.
Minorities and Nationalism in Turkish Law (Ashgate) An anonymous blogger introduces Derya Bayır’s new book, Minorities and Nationalism in Turkish Law.
GCC Rift Another Blow to Erdoğan’s Mideast Policies Turkey is increasingly isolated in the region, more so as Qatar is on the outs with other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Semih İdiz writes.
Turkey in the Iraq Quagmire Verda Özer comments on Sulaimani Forum held in Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan.
"Navigating Challenges" in Sulaimaniyah “Despite all the political odds in the KRG, Iraq, and the whole region, the Sulaimani Forum felt like a small island of hope,” Nuray Mert writes.
Can New Energy Supplies Bring Peace? Brenda Shaffer argues against the claims that the discovery of natural gas reserves in the Mediterranean may contribute to regional cooperation and peace.
Turkish
Farewell to Berkin
Zulmün kara kareleri “Berkin Elvan’s murder shows: Justice is blind. Moral is insolvent. Conscience is dead. Lynching attempts of the HDP are, too, results of this,” writes Ali Topuz.
Güle güle çocuk: Berkin için hazırlanmış 32 ölümsüz tasarım “Thirty-two eternal illustrations” designed as a farewell to Berkin.
Ümmetin suskunluğunu sana şikayet ediyorum! “Oh, Allah! I complain to you of the silence of your ummah!” Mustafa Emin Büyükcoşkun writes.
Yoksa katili tanıyor musunuz? Sedat Ergin points that Berkin’s murder remains unresolved, just as unresolved as murders in Southeast Turkey during the 1990s.
Bir delikanlının ölümü Soli Özer criticizes the Prime Minister and ministers for not apologizing, if not condoling Berkin’s family, for the murder happened under their rule.
Karar AK Parti`nin… Ali Bayramoğlu points that Berkin’s death, combined with the lynching attempts against the HDP, broke out protests against state violence and power.
‘Küçük Prens’in ölümü Doğan Hızlan calls Berkin “the little prince.”
Onlar katilleriyle yaşıyor, ama hep siz mağdursunuz Prime Minister Erdoğan said “I gave the orders” to the police to attack the protesters, Yetvart Danzikyan reminds us.
Günah işleme özgürlüğü vicdansızlara aittir An interview about Berkin’s murder with Dücane Cündioğlu, a “philosopher or a dervish.”
Ötekileştirmenin duygusal ekonomisi “The Republic of Turkey is a community of othering; a hell of discrimination along the lines of race, gender, sex, and class,” writes Nazan Üstündağ.
Graft Crisis and Tape Scandals
İşte Türkiye`nin konuştuğu ses kayıtları Chronological collection of all the leaked tapes since 17 December between Prime Minister Erdoğan, his son, ministers, mayors, and businessmen.
Bir evlat sahibinin duyguları “I don’t want to witness that my daughter’s life is shaped by an untouchable, unaccountable leader cult,” writes Turgay Oğur.
Cemaat ve hükümet birlikte batıyor, Türkiye’yi de batırıyorlar (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5)-(6) Ruşen Çakır argues that the struggle between Erdoğan and Gülen is a lose-lose situation, which destroys Turkey.
İttihad ve Terakki`den günümüze "liderlik," "siyaset" ve "demokrasi" (1)-(2) Şükrü Hanioğlu analyzes the historical background of “leadership democracy” in Turkey.
Biz neredeyiz? According to Orhan Gazi Ertekin, the political crisis between Erdoğan and Gülen has rendered Erdoğan’s despotic genes more visible.
Gelecek tehlike Doğu Ergil argues that Turkey is in danger of becoming a Salafi rule, a form of sharia that is intolerant to democracy, individual rights, and pluralism.
Releases in Ergenekon
‘Türkiye’de hâlâ askeri darbe ihtimali var mı?’ Reflecting upon the release of prominent suspects in the Ergenekon case, Cengiz Çandar argues that a military coup is still a possibility in Turkey.
Demokrasinin motor gücü! According to Eren Keskin, democracy in Turkey has only one driving force: the Kurds.
Uzun tutukluluk, açık hapishane Karin Karakaşlı draws attention to connections between the released Ergenekon suspects, the assassination of Hrant Dink, and unidentified murders of Kurds.
Lynching Attempts against the HDP
HDP’ye saldırıların kökenleri (1)-(2) İrfan Aktan analyzes the roots of attacks against the People’s Democracy Party (HDP).
Tabela taşlama müsameresi ve Türkiyelileşemeyen Türkler According to Bülent Küçük, the stoning and lynching of the HDP has to do with the increasing power of those who truly want peace and equality.
Birlikte yaşayamama meselesi üzerine birkaç söz Toplum ve Kuram journal’s preface to the third issue is about co-existence and (not)living together.
‘Mücadele hep bize mi düşer usta?’ Erol Katırcıoğlu argues that attacks against the HDP serves as litmus tests in Turkey’s struggle for democracy.
Öcalan: Barış için referandum Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of PKK, condemns “gladio” attacks against the HDP and considers local elections as a “referendum for peace”.
HDP Ufak Uras points that attacks against the HDP politicians, offices, and cars go against the principle of free and fair elections.
Aydınlardan HDP`ye destek Intellectuals and academics released a statement in order to support the HDP.
Kurdish Question
KCK: AKP Hükümeti işlevini kaybetti The Groups of Communities in Kurdistan (KCK) declared that the AKP has lost its political function and that it is no longer an addressee in the peace process.
Ölüme karşı yaşamı savunmak lazım Kaos-GL’s interview with Professor Betül Yarar about feminist contributions to the socialization of peace.
Barış sürecinde kadın politikası üzerine Interview with members of Women’s Initiative for Peace about women’s politics in the peace process.
Jineoloji konferansı Nazan Üstündağ relays her observations about the “Jineoloji Conference” organized by Kurdish women organizations in Europe.
Other Pertinent Pieces:
Seçmen değil insan (1)-(2)-(3) Bekir Ağırdır’s analyzes voting behavior for the upcoming elections.
Siyasetteki pornografinin yanında ‘İtiraf’ filminin ezikliği! Gülse Birsel criticizes the ban on Lars Von Trier’s recent film Nymphomaniac due to “pornographic footage and dialogue.”
Biz `Gezi`ciler kimiz? Karar vermek için geç kalmadık mı? “Who are ‘we’, Gezi protesters,” asks Pınar Dinç Kenanoğlu.
Türkiye’de siyasal şiddetin boyutları Sociologist Emrah Göker presents a recently published book on political violence in Turkey.
Masis Kürkçügil ile soykırım ve Ermeni-Kürt ilişkileri üzerine An interview with Masis Kürkçügil about genocide and Armenian-Kurdish relations.
İcat ettiğimiz tanrılar Osman Özarslan’s newly published book Dekalog analyzes how the modernist and positivist approaches of Kemalism have become the “constitutive element” of our minds.
Rodrik: Efsane yapılmış Türkiye ekonomisini zor günler bekliyor An interview with Professor Dani Rodrik about the future of Turkey’s economy.
Published on Jadaliyya
Monument of the Unknown Student
“Seni bilen hayran, bilmeyen düşman” or, Why Erdoğan Remains so Popular
Alevis in Ottoman Anatolia: An Interview with Ayfer Karakaya-Stump
In Turkey, Some Labels Keep on Giving
Sosyal Bilimler ve Kadinlarin Bilme Bicimleri
New Texts Out Now: Annika Marlen Hinze, Turkish Berlin: Integration Policy and Urban Space
Buradan bir cikis var mi? Ya da neden HDP’deyim?
"The Family Duress Was a Campaign of Torment": An Interview with Asli Igsiz
What’s Happening in Turkey? A Roundtable with the Turkey Page Editors