[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
Kurdish Question and Peace Process
Öcalan: In the Next Two or Three Weeks There will Be Important Talks Abdullah Öcalan stated that there would be significant developments in the peace process in the coming period.
Reviving the Kurdish Peace Process Hatem Ete points out that the peace process is on the brink of a new phase.
Two Killed During Protests Against Security Post A report on the clashes between civilians and soldiers in Diyarbakır’s Lice district, where demonstrations against the construction of a gendarmerie posts have been continuing for two weeks.
"The Kurdish Identity Is Marked by Oppression and Resistance, Silence and Crying" An interview with İrfan Aktan about how Kurdish identity has been shaped through resistance against denial.
The Largest-Ever Civil Uprising in Turkey (1)-(2) Frederike Geerdink argues that the largest-ever uprising in Turkey’s history is not Gezi but the Kurdish movement.
New Kids on the Block Ahu Özyurt argues that children who are allegedly abducted by the PKK will be the defining factor in the peace process.
Mothers: Golden Key for Kurdish Peace Mahmut Övür argues that the protest of the mothers of those who were allegedly abducted by the PKK is a “golden key” for peace, normalization, and demilitarization.
The Route to the Resolution Process Osman Can draws attention to the necessity of structural steps taken for the success of the peace process.
A New Start for the Resolution Process in Diyarbakır (1)-(2) Ali Bayramoğlu argues that the state-initiated workshop in Diyarbakır that gathers representatives and community leaders from the state and the Kurdish community is a new start.
Settlement Workshop Orhan Miroğlu relays his observations from the Resolution Workshop conducted in Diyarbakır.
The Rojava Massacre Is AKP`s Agenda Amed Dicle comments on the AKP’s support for ISIS and Al-Nusra, which are killing civilians in Rojava and Syria on a daily basis.
The Kurds and the Future of Assad Wladimir Van Wilgenburg argues that the situation of Syrian Kurds is contingent upon changing war dynamics between Assad and opposition groups.
Turkey`s Lost Influence in Iraq Semih İdiz argues that Turkey’s tilt toward the Kurdistan Region has undermined its influence in Iraq.
What Role Will the Kurds Play in the Presidential Polls? Serkan Demirtaş comments on the Kurds’ behavior toward the presidential elections under the light of the peace process.
What Does Öcalan Think About the Presidential Election? Sedat Ergin notes that the BDP’s Kurdish electorate has a strategic importance for Erdoğan’s candidacy for the presidential elections.
Turkey’s Politics, Autocracy, Presidential Elections
Will Erdoğan Always Prevail? Halil Karaveli argues that while Erdoğan acts like an autocrat in the western parts of Turkey, he embodies the hope of democratization in the Kurdish east.
How to Review the Yalova and Ağrı Elections? AKP lost the re-elections both in Yalova and Ağrı, writes Sedat Ergin.
Building on Division: Erdoğan’s Presidential Ambitions According to Gareth Jenkins, if Erdoğan is a candidate for the presidential elections, regardless of who wins, the result is likely to be a divided country.
Erdoğan`s Conduct Focus of Speculation Cengiz Çandar notes that Turks traveling abroad are subjected to questions about the behavior of Erdoğan.
Checking In On The Turkish PM Race Michael Koplow speculates about plausible candidates for the prime ministry if Erdoğan runs in the presidential elections.
Davutoğlu as Next Turkish Prime Minister? “Ahmet Davutoğlu is the name leading the list of candidates for the premiership and party chairmanship,” writes Fatih Altaylı.
Who Will Run Turkey After the Presidential Elections? Özgür Korkmaz argues that if Erdoğan is elected president, Turkey will become a one-man rule.
Erdoğan and Post-August Turkey Yavuz Baydar argues that Abdullah Gül is the most likely name for party chairman, whereas Bülent Arınç is the most likely candidate as prime minister.
Election Monitoring: Turkey`s Last Chance for Free and Fair Elections Suat Kınıklıoğlu argues that the opposition should take elections seriously and ensure appropriate ballot box security.
The Presidential Elections and the Opposition Taha Özhan argues that the more the opposition parties are resistant to change, the more likely that they will fail in presidential elections.
AK Party`s Islamism According to Ali Bulaç, what constitutes the backbone of AKP’s philosophy is liberalism, nationalism, and moral pragmatism, but not Islam or Islamism.
Islam Versus Pluralism and Democracy? Contemporary Turkish Islamic thought has both a worrying trend toward authoritarianism and also assuring views that support democracy, pluralism, and liberty, Mustafa Akyol contends.
Three Different Notions: Civilitas, Civilization, Civility Akif Emre examines how Muslim intellectuals have interpreted the notion of civilization.
Turkey’s Intra-Islamic Witch Hunt Mustafa Akyol argues that Erdoğan’s attack on the “parallel state” has become a witch hunt against the Gülen movement.
The AKP`s Hagia Sophia Campaign Kadri Gürsel argues that campaigns for converting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque serve to mobilize conservative masses and divert attention from other political issues.
The New Official History and St. Sophia Nuray Mert comments on the debates around St. Sophia in the light of the discourse of “the lost empire.”
Russia, Turkey Agree on Gülen Vitaly Naumkin argues that Russia’s extremely negative attitude toward the Gülen movement promotes the rapprochement between Russia and Turkey.
Revolution and Rule Cengiz Aktar compares the AKP’s rule to the various stages of the French Revolution.
First Anniversary of Gezi Uprisings
Innovation and Obstacles in Istanbul One Year After Gezi Michael Hardt examines two primary obstacles that stand in the way of the Gezi movement regaining its previous energy.
Gezi: Never Again! Doğu Ergil explains why the government has suppressed Gezi demonstrations.
Full Flow in Rights Violations in Tear Gas Sedat Ergin points out that there is not one single police officer who has been tried and punished due to rights violations during the Gezi protests.
Why Were They Afraid of Gezi? Cafer Solgun argues that the Gezi uprising is an “obstacle” to Erdoğan’s efforts to legitimize himself and his ruling party.
Gezi Lessons to the Turkish Opposition Murat Yetkin comments on the CHP’s Gezi report: “The Gezi Movement.”
Marking the Anniversary of Gezi Park Protests Hatem Ete argues that the political polarization caused in the wake of Gezi has hindered the solution of structural problems through dialogue.
Gezi`s Anniversary and Erdoğan`s Disproportionate Politics Mümtazer Türköne criticizes Erdoğan’s reliance on the use of disproportionate force against peaceful protesters.
What`s Left for the Future from Gezi Protests? Atilla Yayla asks why the protests were not repeated this year.
Gezi Protestors and the Greens “Why didn’t any concrete politics come out from Gezi?” asks Özlem Albayrak.
Economy
Turkish Inflation at Its "Worst" Before Expected Slowdown According to Mehmet Cetingüleç, a slowdown in Turkey’s inflation is expected to begin in June.
Turkey`s Central Bank Governor Pressured to Resign Mehmet Cetingüleç points to the government influence on the Central Bank`s monetary policies.
The Prime Minister Is Not Convinced Seyfettin Gürsel comments on the disagreement between Erdoğan and the Central Bank over interest rates.
Erdogan`s Interest Rate Agenda Kadri Gürsel points out that Erdoğan’s pressure on the Central Bank to lower the interest rate threatens the presumed independence and the international prestige of the institution.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Boğaziçi University Student, Faculty, and Personnel Report on the Soma Observations The report of the condolence and observational visit by students, academics, and personnel of Boğaziçi University to Soma.
What Does Erdoğan Mean by "Alevis without Ali"? Prime Minister Erdoğan classifies Turkey’s Alevis into “Alevis with Ali” and “Alevis without Ali,” writes Fehim Taştekin.
Turkey Finally Designates al-Nusra a Terrorist Group “Turkey’s Council of Ministers designated Jabhat al-Nusra a terrorist organization the day Syria held its presidential elections,” writes Tülin Daloğlu.
Turkey’s Evolving Syria Policy: The Decision to Blacklist Nusra Aaron Stein examines the reasons and implications of Turkey’s designation of al-Nusra as a terrorist organization.
Is Israel Concerned by Turkish Court Decision? Fehim Taştekin argues that the court decision about the Mavi Marmara is unlikely to cause much concern in Israel.
Hito Steyerl | Politics of Post-Representation An interview with the artist Hito Steyer on the use of images in contemporary social media, including the AKP’s control of eighteen thousand fake Twitter accounts using the photos of celebrities and gay porn stars.
Trilateral Summit Signals Turkey`s Increasing Role in South Caucasus Collective Security Micha’el Tanchum comments on the first trilateral summit of the presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia about regional politics, and security, and economic cooperation.
Our Discussion on the Brazilian Welfare Regime Koç University Social Policy Center’s panel entitled “Welfare Provision and Its Politics in Emerging Markets: The Case of Brazil” is available for listening and downloading.
Turkish
Kurdish Question and Peace Process
Öcalan: Süreç yeni bir aşamaya gelmiştir (1)-(2) Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK’s jailed leader, told the HDP’s committee that the peace process has come to a new phrase.
‘Yeni dönem duruşu aktif savunma’ The PKK’s organ Serxwebûn’s editorial on the tactic of the new period—“active defense.”
Beş soruda çözüm sürecinde yeni aşama (1)-(2) Ruşen Çakır’s reflections on the new phrase of the peace process in five question.
Çözüm sürecinde yeni perde! (1)-(2) Hüseyin Yayman focuses on the new phrase in the peace process, and reflects upon the state-initiated workshop in Diyarbakır on the Kurdish question.
1 Haziran seçimleri ve Öcalan’a sorular (1)-(2)-(3) Murat Aksoy poses some questions to Abdullah Öcalan, and comments on the recent state-initiated workshop in Diyarbakır.
Amaçlar, planlar ve sonuçlar… Delil Karakoçan argues that “the settlement process” is a reality, though there are events out of favor.
Lice’de asker müdahalesinde iki kişi öldü Two civilians were killed during protests against a gendarmerie post as tension escalates in Turkey’s Kurdistan.
Lice`de kalekol ısrarı barışı riske atıyor (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) The insistence on building a security post in Lice threatens the peace process, Murat Sabuncu points out.
Lice tarihinde unutulan “bağzı şeyler” Adnan Çelik highlights the late history of Lice.
Şiddet İçinde Yaşamak Nuket Sirman’s impressions from Lice after the death of Medeni Yıldırım, an eighteen-year-old boy killed by security forces during a demonstration against the construction of a new gendarmerie post in 2013.
Sürecin yolunu kesenler (1)-(2) Yalçın Akdoğan, Erdoğan’s chief political advisor, holds the PKK and the HDP responsible for Lice.
PKK ne yapıyor? What does the PKK intend to do? Taha Akyol asks.
Erdoğan vazgeçilmez, Kürtler de çaresiz değil “Neither are Kurds desperate nor is Erdoğan indispensable for them,” Ayhan Bilgen argues.
`Apo bir şey söyler, KCK durur` mu? Oral Çalışlar claims that the peace process can not be reduced to the will of leaders—either Erdoğan or Öcalan.
‘Usta’ ve ‘Önderlik’ Arzu Yıldız compares and contrasts Erdoğan to Öcalan.
Dağdan çocuk kaçırmak Ali Topuz argues against the claims that children are abducted by the PKK.
Devlet, aile ve Kürt çocukları Kurdish children know that they are doomed to poverty and state violence, though they do not join the guerillas, Haydar Darıcı suggests.
Demokratik özerklik sınavı Aydın Engin points out the People’s Democratic Party’s (HDP) challenge—democratic autonomy.
10 soruda Kürt petrolü Tolga Tanış writes on the trade of Kurdish oil.
First Anniversary of Gezi Uprisings
Gezi’deki çocuklar Dağ’daki çocuklarla buluşunca… Oya Baydar draws attention to the link between the children of Gezi and those of the Kurdish mountains.
Gezi Raporu Konda’s recent Gezi report deals with the questions “what is society’s perception of the Gezi events” and “who are the participants in it.”
‘Halkın bilgeliği vs. eğitimlilerin cehaleti’: Bir klişeyi tersine çevirmek Doğan Gürpınar comments on Konda’s Gezi report.
‘Gezi Olayı’ ve ‘XI. Tez’ Ergin Yıldızoğlu’s “eleventh thesis on the Gezi event.”
Zeynep Direk ile söyleşi: Gezi’nin bedenleri An interview with Zeynep Direk on “the bodies of the Gezi.”
Haziran isyanı vesilesiyle orta sınıf Ahmet Tonak’s elaborations on the middle classes on the occasion of the Gezi revolt.
Gezi romantizminden çıkmak gerek The opponents of the AKP should drop the Gezi romanticism, Gencer Çakır argues.
‘Anti-anti-AKP’ An interview with Halil Berktay on the Gezi Park protests.
Bir sene sonra "Gezi" Şükrü Hanioğlu claims that the core and the periphery of of Gezi are different, that is, they have different political intentions.
Turkey’s Politics, Autocracy, Presidential Elections
Yenileme seçimler (1)-(2) Tarhan Erdem analyzes the results of recent re-elections both in Ağrı and Yalova.
Yalova ve Ağrı dersleri Ruşen Çakır points out the lessons of Ağrı and Yalova re-elections.
Kutuplaşma derinleşiyor mu? Is the polarization in Turkey getting deeper? Erol Katırcıoğlu asks.
Siyasâl kutuplaşmanın diyalektiği (1)-(2) Süleyman Seyfi Öğün’s critical comments on “the dialectics of political polarization,” and his “relentless reflections” on institutional history.
Ak Parti adlı piramit… “The AK Party is our own monster,” Mehmet Efe argues.
Hükümet Gezi`de ve 17 Aralık`ta istifa etmeliydi An interview with Robert Koptaş, editor-in-chief of the bilingual Armenian weekly Agos, on Gezi, Turkey’s politics, autocracy, and presidential elections.
Erdoğan aynalarla çevrili küçük bir dünyaya sıkıştı An interview with Gareth Jenkins on Turkish politics.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Soma’nın ortaya döktükleri (1)-(2) The Greens and the Left Party of the Future’s (YSGP) reports on the Soma mine disaster and its preliminaries.
AKP Ekonomisi: Kısa Bir Özet A short summary of the AKP’s economy by Erinç Yeldan.
‘Kentsel dönüşüm değil bu, kentsel yıkım’ An interview with Ayşe Çavdar on urban transformation projects in Turkey.
Podcast: “Antep Ermenilerine ve Mallarına Ne Oldu?” Ümit Kurt answers the question: what actually happened to Armenians’ properties in Antep?
Published on Jadaliyya
Gezi at One: Rethinking the Legacy of the Protests
After Ugur Kurt’s Murder in Okmeydani—A Conversation with Ayfer Karakaya-Stump
One Year Since the Gezi Uprising: A Timeline
Ugur Kurt`un Okmeydani`ndaki Katlinden Sonra—Ayfer Karakaya-Stump’la bir Soylesi
Between Two Rationalities: The Possibility of an Alternative Politics in Turkey
Miners and the Ottoman State: Ryan Gingeras Interviews Donald Quataert
New Texts Out Now: Gulcin Erdi-Lelandais, Understanding the City: Henri Lefebvre and Urban Studies