[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
"New Turkey" and "Will of the Nation"
Freedom of the Press 2014 Turkey is relegated to the league of “not free” countries, according to this report from Freedom House.
Turkey`s Erdoğan: One of the World`s Most Determined Internet Censors Joe Parkinson, Sam Schechner, and Emre Peker explain how Erdoğan has become one of the world`s most determined internet censors.
"Not Free" at Last Baydar lists the recent events that led up to the “Not Free” status.
Is Turkey a Land of Hell for the Press? The “Not Free” Press Freedom status is an unjust decision, İlnur Çevik claims.
Turkey’s Fifteen Minutes of Free Expression Are Over Amberin Zaman argues that Erdoğan is a disappointment rather than a dictator in relation to the freedom of expression in the country.
The Danger of Civil War(s) Nuray Mert interprets the meaning of the harsh criticisms of Haşim Kılıç, the head of the Constitutional Court, against the government.
Why the Constitutional Court Is Right Mustafa Akyol traces the debates following Haşim Kılıç’s stern criticisms, favoring Kılıç’s position on judicial independence.
Will Halki, Israel, Cemevi Reforms Turn into Real Change? Orhan Kemal Cengiz comments on the AKP’s allegedly new reform agenda in the wake of the presidential and general elections.
The "New Normal" for Turkey Hilal Kaplan praises the AKP’s past and current policies in terms of political reforms and reconciliation attempts.
The East`s Modernity Paradox Cengiz Aktar criticizes favoring the “Eastern” values for a “New Turkey” over Westernization ideals, purported by some pro-government opinion leaders.
White Turks Replaced by Mortified Turks Mehmet Barlas describes what he sees as a shift in the political standing of the Gülen Movement—toward an alliance with “White Turks.”
The Real Barrier to Democratization Cafer Sorgun argues that the AKP’s claim to “fight for democracy and freedom” is "sheer demagoguery.”
The Main Problem of Muslims Hüseyin Gülerce designates several problems that the Muslim world should address.
Is Islam ‘A Way of Life’? Mustafa Akyol criticizes the authoritarian interpretations of Islam.
Tape Politics Ekrem Dumanlı calls “the tape politics” a new style of politics of Ankara.
Let Mr. Erdoğan Fight His Own Battles A New York Times editorial piece on a potential extradition request for Fethullah Gülen by the Turkish government.
Rather Belated Proclamations İsmail Küçükşahin discusses the recent developments between the Gülen Movement and the AKP government.
Presidential Elections
The Stakes of Electoral Reform Seyfettin Gürsel speculates over Prime Minister Erdoğan’s strategy and its implications in the presidential elections.
Three Streaks in the Presidential Campaign İsmet Berkan looks at the potential discourses to be used in the three parties’ presidential campaigns.
Toward a New Type of Presidency Hatem Ete examines the different forms of presidency in the history of Turkish Republic.
Potential Results of Turkey`s Next Presidential Election Osman Can discusses the dynamics between the ministerial cabinet, the Parliament, and the the judiciary.
German President’s Visit
Erdoğan, German President Exchange Barbs Cengiz Çandar comments on the German President’s recent visit to Turkey and his criticisms directed at the government.
In Turkey, How Germany’s President Became "Germany`s Imam" Mustafa Akyol sees the traces of McCarthyism in Erdoğan’s uncompromising attitude against political criticism.
"Atheist Alevis" and the Sunni-ization of Alevism Following Erdoğan’s accusations regarding the Alevi community in Germany, Özgür Korkmaz scrutinizes Erdoğan’s attitude and the AKP’s policy making for the Alevis.
Where Does Turkey Stand in the World? Ismet Berkan writes on the debate regarding the style for addressing Turkey in the world.
America’s Trial with New Turkey Taha Özhan evaluates the role of the “native informant” regarding the US perspective on Turkish politics.
Why Does Erdoğan Have No Friend Left in the West? Barçın Yinanç speculates about the reasons behind Erdoğan’s decreasing popularity in the West.
May Day
Turkish Forces Clash with Protesters Snapshots from May Day in Istanbul.
Turkey May Day Protests Hit by Tear Gas Near Taksim Square Forty thousand police were deployed in Istanbul on May Day.
The May Day Erdoğan Engraved in Our Minds Opening Taksim Square to public celebrations of May Day in 2010, Erdoğan reverts back to the old practice in 2014, Sedat Ergin points out.
Dispatches: Why Banning May Day in Taksim Doesn’t Work Emma Sinclair-Webb reminds us that in 2011-12, when the government allowed May Day demonstrations in Taksim, the atmosphere was peaceful.
Protests in Istanbul Send "Mayday" for Turkish Democracy According to Cengiz Çandar, May Day was held in a “state of emergency” due to the security clampdown on Istanbul.
Those Who Challenged Taksim on May 1 Are the Most Virtuous of All Melis Alphan argues that being on Taksim Square despite government bans and police attacks is a citizenship duty.
Mayday May Day Murat Yetkin examines the participation rate in May Day demonstrations.
Kurdish Question and Democratic Autonomy
If You Don’t Put Yourself in Jail Frederike Geerdink writes about the recent release of KCK prisoners.
The Kurds in the Spotlight: Local and Regional Challenges Ana Villellas’s report on the “Kurdish question” in the light of recent political developments in Syria, Turkey, and Iraq.
Turkey-Kurdish Regional Government Relations after the US Withdrawal from Iraq: Putting the Kurds on the Map? Bill Park explores the ramifications of political changes in Iraq both for the region and for US policy.
The Kurdish Peace Process: Ideology, Interest, and the Regional Dynamics Galip Dalay examines the ongoing peace process from a regional perspective.
The Nation-State’s Blurred Borders: Erdoğan and the Emergence of Kurdistan in Turkey Kerem Öktem examines the peace process in light of the AKP’s politics toward the nation-state.
Prime Minister’s Message on the Armenian Genocide
Turks and Armenians—We Must Follow Erdoğan`s Lead and Bury Our Common Pain Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s piece on the prime minister’s Message in regard to the Armenian Genocide.
Condolences According to Doğu Ergil, despite its limitations, Erdoğan’s condolences for Armenians was a big step towards challenging Turkish national history.
How Did Armenians React to Erdoğan’s April 24 Speech? Short interviews with locals in Yerovan, the capital of Armenia.
Turkey-Armenia Ties Unlikely to Improve Sami Kohen points out that Erdoğan’s condolences were found “insufficient” by Armenians and he was criticized for not using the word “genocide.”
Erdoğan’s Armenian Outreach Henri J. Barkey questions the politics behind Erdoğan’s condolences.
The Real Turkish Heroes of 1915 Raffi Bedrosyan writes about Ottoman politicians who were labeled as “traitors” because they refused to participate in the Armenian genocide.
Syria Policy
Turkey`s Syria Borders an Open Door for Smugglers An in-depth depiction of the recent critical events in Turkey’s Syria border by Fehim Taştekin.
The Rising Costs of Turkey’s Syrian Quagmire An in-depth analysis of Turkey’s engagement with Syria: the humanitarian aid, domestic problems, and military dilemmas.
Book Review: Turkey-Syria Relations: Between Enmity and Amity by Dr. Gülriz Şen A book review on the transformation of relations between Syria and Turkey by Gülriz Şen.
II. Middle Eastern Congress on Politics and Society A conference on significant developments in politics of the Middle East (Sakarya, 14-17 October 2014).
Other Pertinent Pieces
Europe’s Changing Architecture: Notes on Rethinking the EU-Turkey Relationship A policy brief on the options for rethinking EU-Turkey relations in the context of the “future of European integration.”
Turkish-Iranian Rapprochement and the Future of European and Asian Energy A brief report on energy politics and recent regional developments.
Iraq Elections and Turkey An analysis of Turkey’s reaction to the elections in Iraq in light of the intra- and inter-dynamics of the two countries.
Turkish
"New Turkey" and "Will of the Nation"
AYM kararları doğru According Ergun Özbudun, one of the authors of a draft constitution in 2007, there is a shift within the government towards a majoritarian form of democracy.
Kim değişti? Suat Kınıklıoğlu comments on Özbudun’s interview and answers the question “Who created change?”
İkinci cumhuriyet: Mecburi istikamet (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Mehmet Altan criticizes the AKP’s “new Turkey” and argues for the second republic.
Kürtler `İslamcı Kemalist`lerle güç birliği mi yapıyor? Reflecting upon Mehmet Altan’s article series, Ezgi Başaran asks whether Kurds can seal an alliance with the Islamic Kemalists.
Liberallerle Kürtlerin yarım kalan aşkı (1)-(2) Ruşen Çakır’s response to Mehmet Altan’s second article on the second republic, entitled “Fascism in the West, Autonomy in the East?”
Aynılar ayrı yerde, ayrılar aynı yerde Ruşen Çakır argues that the Turkish constitutional referendum of 2010 is the jubilee of the “new Turkey” alliance.
Yeni Türkiye`nin yeni kültü Hakkı Taş writes on “the new cult of new Turkey.”
Bize düşen hep `gayri millilik` Murat Aksoy argues against the AKP government’s popular discourse on “the will of the nation.”
`Millî irade` kimin iradesidir? Oya Baydar compares and contrasts Erdoğan’s “national will” to Rousseau’s “general will.”
AYM`nin muhalefete soyunması… (1)-(2) Ali Bayramoğlu claims that the Constitutional Court has become involved in politics and become a part of the opposition.
Vesâyetçiliğin târihine bir derkenar (1)-(2)-(3) Süleyman Seyfi Öğün grounds tutelage in Turkey in its bourgeois transformation—from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic.
Farklılık ötekileştirme ve dışlama Hayrettin Karaman, the AKP’s Islamic jurist of choice, argues for an Islamic version of othering and exclusion.
May Day
Devletin genetiği Mete Çubukçu writes that banning May Day is a state convention.
"1 Mayıs korkusu" Soli Özel points to “the fear of May Day.”
Grev gözcülüğünden devlet sözcülüğüne Erdoğan`ın hikâyesi Doğan Akın focuses on Erdoğan’s history—from a picketer to a state spokesman.
Ya toplum ya hiç Abdullah Öcalan’s May Day message.
Kötülük de kendini böyle gösteriyor işte Ümit Kıvaç’s analysis of May Day: “that is the way an evil shows itself.”
Kurdish Question and Democratic Autonomy
Özerklik yasalaşmalı Autonomy should be legislated, Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK’s jailed leader, says.
Kürtler Demokratik Özerklikle ne istiyor (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5) An interview series with several Kurdish representatives on the topic of democratic autonomy.
Türkler ne istiyor? Cüneyt Özdemir contends that it is time for an article series over “What Turks want” following Pınar Öğün’s article series on “What Kurds want.”
Merkezî yönetim ve özerklik (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Ümit Kardaş’s analyzes “the central administration and autonomy.”
Güvenli bir toplum üretmek Nazan Üstündağ discusses the different ways of reproducing social reliability.
HDP-BDP Merger
Stratejik büyüme The deputies of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) officially joined The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).
Duran Kalkan HDP’yi Kürdistan24′de değerlendirdi PKK Central Committee member Duran Kalkan’s analysis of the HDP-BDP merger.
Tarihsel buluşmada bir adım daha… Saruhan Oluç writes that the HDP-BDP merger is of historical significance.
Büyük program yeni HDP-BDP Veysi Sarısözen argues that the HDP is an alternative in global and regional politics.
Günlerin getirdiği Gençay Gürsoy points to the expectation from the HDP after its fusion with the BDP.
Ortak siyasal platform The Peoples’ Democratic Party should be a radical democratic party and reunite left democrats, liberal democrats, and Muslim democrats, Adil Bayram argues.
Aynı hatayı tersinden yinelemeyelim According to Ferda Koç, the Kurdish Revolution is substantially irrelevant to the Turkish Revolution.
HDP ve devrim The revolutionary movement of Turkey should not let the task of establishing a revolutioınary part slide while they do politics in the HDP, Kemal Erdem argues.
Partiler yeni döneme hazırlanıyor Yalçın Akdoğan, Erdoğan’s chief political advisor, criticizes the HDP-BDP merger, calling it “an opening to the marginal left.”
Prime Minister’s Message on the Armenian Genocide
Taziyeden sonra manzara Yetvart Danzikyan portrays the Turkish political scene after Prime Minister Erdoğan’s condolence for Armenians.
Taziye notları Ohannes Kılıçdağı relays his notes on Erdoğan’s condolence.
‘Kürt sorununu çözmek için önce Ermeni meselesini çözmeniz gerekir’ An interview with Vedat Türkali, a prominent Turkish author, on Erdoğan’s message.
Tarihi özgürleştirmek "Prime Minister’s Message on the Events of 1915" disentangles the history from holiness, opens it up for discussion, and asks for its liberation, Şükrü Hanioğlu argues.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Gazeteciliğin yüzde 99`u alçaklık ve korkaklıktır… Ahmet Altan argues that “ninety-nine percent of journalism is full of sordidness and cowardice.”
Ahlak ve farklılık Zeynek Direk’s piece on “morality and distinction.”
Published on Jadaliyya
The Confiscation of Armenian Properties: An Interview with Umit Kurt
#23BucukNisan / Unutulan Cocuklarin Bayrami
Tahrir, Taksim, Tempelhof: Between Political Fields
Digital Platforms, Analog Elections: How Civic Groups Are Trying to Bring Back Democracy in Turkey