[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
“Erdoğan as President,” the AKP, and Authoritarianism
An Elected President Must Show He is in Command İlnur Çevik argues that Erdoğan’s unprecedented use of constitutionally guaranteed presidential powers are part of his mandate as the first elected president in the history of the Turkish Republic.
Is This the First Step towards the Presidential System? Abdülkadir Selvi suggests that Erdoğan’s consolidation of power as president will generate “synergy” between him and Davutoğlu, rather than producing tension and power struggles.
Erdoğan Moves for De Facto Regime Change in Turkey (1) - (2) Murat Yetkin examines how Erdoğan’s use of presidential powers indicates the direction that the government may take and offers predictions for prominent figures who may take their place in the new regime.
Parliament Out, Constitutional Court In (1) - (2) İhsan Yılmaz claims that the dwindling faith in Parliament as a source for political redress and the discontent with the AKP’s dominance indicates the growing “Assadization” of the country.
Why Is the Turkish Press Resisting the Presidential System? Kemal Öztürk asserts that journalists are trying to delegitimize the presidential system by generating “artificial fears” regarding the threats of monarchical rule and Kurdish separatism.
Sovereignty Belongs to the Nation Unconditionally According to Markar Esayan, the presidential system is well-suited to the particular situation of Turkey’s politics, even though some critics may not fully understand its value.
Parallel Lies and Deception in Judiciary According to Abdullah Bozkurt, political Islamists like the AKP are putting pressure on the police forces and the judiciary in order to exert stronger control over dissent within the government.
Acquittal in the Corruption Investigation
Corruption, 301, Punishment for Tweets Orhan Kemal Cengiz argues that several recent legal and judicial developments, including the acquittal of the ex-ministers and the conviction of human rights lawyer Eren Keskin, are indications of the AKP’s growing authoritarianism.
"Suspected" Government Cafer Solgun speculates that the government will use repressive measures in order to attempt to erase any lasting suspicions about the corruption investigation.
Erdoğan Stirred, Not Shaken, By Corruption Vote Semih İdiz analyzes the growing polarization of the AK Party after a number of AKP deputies voted against the party line to impeach the four ex-ministers embroiled in the corruption scandal.
Who Is against Corruption? According to Etyen Mahçupyan, the AKP has drastically reduced structures of systemic corruption since its ascent to power in 2002.
Coup Averted, the Ex-Ministers Should Get Their Jobs Back Özgür Korkmaz argues that the only way to restore the legitimacy of the government would be for the four ex-ministers to be reappointed to their former positions.
June Elections
Erdoğan`s Solo Act Ömer Şahin explores whether Erdoğan’s continuing domination of the AKP government will alienate voters or other party members like Davutoğlu.
Presidential System for New Turkey İbrahim Karagül suggests that internal and external forces are attempting to derail Erdoğan and the AKP’s attempts to transform the government into a presidential system.
CHP`s Challenges as the "Most Prepared Party" Şükrü Küçükşahin examines the obstacles and the prospects of the CHP as the primary opposition party in the upcoming general election.
Win or Lose, Turkey`s Kurds Will Advance in June Elections Kadri Gürsel argues that the Kurds will raise secessionist demands against the Turkish government if the HDP does not make it past the threshold in the general elections.
Will There Be Real Elections in Turkey? Mümtazer Türköne asserts that the state’s efforts to shut down opposition media and journalists indicate that democracy in Turkey is not functioning.
Hrant Dink Commemoration—Eighth Year
Hrant Dink Commemoration 2015 A photo series containing images of the march to commemorate Hrant Dink on 19 January 2015.
The Hrant Dink Assassination: A Social Awakening Emre Gönen explores the supposed Ottoman legacy of ethnic pluralism and claims that resolving the facts of the Hrant Dink assassination would help the government confront the "parallel structure."
What`s in Hand after Eight Years? (1) - (2) Ali Bayramoğlu suggests that the many accusations of guilt and complicity are preventing Turkish politics from truly reckoning with the murder of Hrant Dink.
Why Was Turkey Present in Paris but not in Hrant Dink`s March? Comparing the circumstances of the Charlie Hebdo attacks with Hrant Dink’s assassination, Barçın Yinanç examines the cognitive dissonance in the Turkish state’s approach to both events.
Cizre Events and the Kurdish Question
Turkey`s Kurds Should Be in Parliament İlnur Çevik argues that the HDP provides a necessary platform for quelling separatist voices and should therefore have a place in Parliament.
A Look at the Process Bearing Cizre in Mind Abdülkadir Selvi claims that the PKK is trying to sabotage the peace process by fomenting unrest and violence in Cizre.
Kurdish Peace Talks in Danger Ahu Özyurt suggests that Abdullah Öcalan may no longer have authority over the PKK and the youth who are rebelling in Cizre.
Foreign Relations
The Seeds of Danger Doğu Ergil examines public opinion polls about Islamic fundamentalism and whether Turkey should have a role in fighting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
EU is the Culprit for Turkish-Russian Energy Rapprochement Barçın Yinanç suggests that dissatisfaction with the EU may have contributed to recent energy agreements between Turkey and Russia.
Will Davutoğlu Say Anything New at Davos? Semih İdiz speculates about whether Davutoğlu’s forthcoming speech at the Davos summit will provide a vision of how Turkey aims to get out of its international and regional isolation.
Did the West Write Erdoğan Off for Israel`s Sake? Mustafa Akyol suggests that Erdoğan himself may be responsible for Turkey’s alienation from the West rather than vice-versa.
Why Israel`s Hezbollah Strike Didn`t Bother Turkey`s Islamists Pınar Tremblay argues that Erdoğan’s silence about Israel’s strike on Hezbollah suggests that his anti-Assad stance is stronger than his anti-Israel stance.
What the Somalia Bombing Ahead of Erdoğan`s Visit Shows According to Murat Yetkin, Islamic extremists are no longer distinguishing between Erdoğan and his Western counterparts, in spite of the fact that he is a devout Muslim.
Erdoğan`s Trip Shows Growing Influence in Africa İlnur Çevik examines how Turkish diplomatic efforts in Africa are attempting to generate alternatives to Gülen-led schools across the continent.
Turkey in Africa İbrahim Kalın argues that Turkey is leading the way among developed countries to build security, economic development, and equal opportunity in Africa.
Taking the EU Seriously Etyen Mahçupyan asserts that the European Union refuses to accept Turkey as a member nation because of its own integration problems and should therefore no longer be taken seriously.
Taking the Fight against the Community to Africa… Ali Bayramoğlu asserts that Erdoğan’s tour across Africa emphasizes economic cooperation and anti-terrorism efforts in order to combat the Gülen movement’s presence across the continent.
Moving on with the African Expansion (1) - (2) Yasin Aktay speculates that anti-government forces are attempting to disseminate “black propaganda” about the Turkish diplomatic mission to Western Africa, as well as Davutoğlu’s forthcoming speech at Davos.
Iran`s Coup in Yemen: What Does it Have to Do with Turkey? İbrahim Karagül claims that the coup in Yemen, led by Shi‘i militants supported by Iran, is a step towards destabilizing Turkey’s foothold in Somalia.
Economy
Game on for "Turkish Stream" Amanda Paul explores the prospects for the energy industry in both Turkey and Europe in relation to ongoing negotiations between Turkey and Russia on selling natural gas to Europe.
Turkey Missed its Key Economic Targets in 2014 According to Mehmet Çetingüleç, although the Turkish economy experienced a slowdown in 2014, falling oil prices will recuperate the economy in the upcoming year.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Turkey`s "Pink Prison" Sibel Hürtaş examines the controversies surrounding the Turkish government’s efforts to build a prison designated solely for LGBT individuals.
The Gallipoli Centenary Is a Shameful Attempt to Hide the Armenian Holocaust Robert Fisk analyzes the history of Armenian participation in the battle at Gallipoli and argues that this history, as well as the history of the Armenian genocide, risk being erased by nationalist historical narratives.
Turkish
Domestic Politics
Güçlü başkan sistemine "yumuşak geçiş" (1)-(2) Murat Yetkin examines how Erdoğan’s use of presidential powers indicates the direction that the government may take and offers predictions for prominent figures who may take their place in the new regime.
‘2002 Devrimi’, ‘Ulu Önder’ ve Türkiye’yi bekleyen acı tecrübe Nuray Mert argues that Erdoğan is moving for a de facto presidential system in Turkey.
AK Parti’nin eski Türkiye ittifakı Yücel Taşkın argues that Prime Minister Davutoğlu should solve the polarization in the AKP at the expense of going against Erdoğan.
O çocukların kanı ellerinizden hiç çıkmayacak! Mehveş Evin criticizes the justice system in Turkey after the final decision in the case of Ali İsmail Korkmaz, who was killed by police violence at the age of nineteen during the Gezi Protests.
HDP and the Ten Percent Electoral Threshold
CHP, Kürtler ve sosyalistler blok oluşturmalı In an interview with Fatih Polat, co-president of the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), Alper Taş suggests that the CHP, Kurds, and socialists should create a bloc in order to win the next elections and overcome the “danger of Islamic fascism.”
Bu seçimde HDP’ye mi oy vermeli? Şahin Alpay argues that as a strategic move to overcome the AKP in the next elections, electors shouldn’t vote for the HDP since it cannot overcome the ten percent threshold to be seated in the parliament.
SYRİZA, sonra Podemos, belki yarın HDP Pelin Cengiz draws parallels between Greece’s SYRIZA and Spain’s Podemos, depicting a hopeful picture for the HDP’s success in the upcoming elections.
AKP en az yüzde 5 oy kaybetmezse HDP’nin barajı geçmesi çok zor Nazım Kadri Ekinci argues that it is very unlikely for the HDP to overcome the ten percent threshold unless the AKP loses five percent of its votes.
HDP barajı geçse ne olur, geçmese ne olur? İrfan Aktan analyzes what happens if the HDP can and cannot overcome the ten percent threshold.
Demirtaş İstanbul 1. Bölge birinci sıra adayı According to Ruşen Çakır, the fact that Selahattin Demirtaş won 9.7 percent of the votes gives hope to the HDP in the next elections.
HDP kime güveniyor? Fehim Taştekin reports that the HDP is hopeful about the upcoming elections, believing that the Kobane resistance would increase its chances by attracting more voters.
Seçim barajını tutanaklar yıkacak Mehmet Çetingüleç writes about the history of the electoral threshold and argues that it is against the constitution.
Hrant Dink Commemoration—Eighth Year
Murathan Mungan: Hrant’la, bir türlü hazmedemedikleri barış dilini öldürmek istediler Author and poet Murathan Mungan’s speech in honor of the eight annual commemoration of Hrant Dink, the prominent Armenian journalist who was assassinated in Istanbul on 19 January 2007.
Dink cinayetinde adı geçenler neydi, ne oldu… Mehmet Bozkurt presents a detailed follow up of what has happened to state officials who were accused of participating in the assassination of Hrant Dink.
19 Ocak ve 2015; utanç verici işler Ümit Kıvanç argues that the AKP government is trying to render the Gülen movement the only perpetrator of the assassination of Hrant Dink, while whitewashing the military general staff, national intelligence service, gendarmerie, and police.
Bu 19 Ocak başkaydı Güven Gürkan Öztan argues that 19 January has become a day for facing the past and asking for justice not only for Hrant Dink’s case but for all “unidentified murders” in Turkey.
Bir balkona kaç tabut sığar? Commenting on the eighth annual commemoration of Hrant Dink, Elif Key draws attention to the unidentified murders and assassinations in Turkey.
O soykırım sürüyor hala… Ayşe Batumlu argues that Hrant Dink was the last victim of an ongoing genocide in the one hundredth year of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Haklılığın suskunluğu Serdar Değirmencioğlu argues that in order to bring justice after Hrant Dink’s assassination, the Turkish state should face its long history of murders and massacres, including the 1915 Armenian Genocide, the 1938 Dersim Massacre, the unidentified murders of the 1990s, the Roboski Massacre, and Berkin Elvan’s killing by police brutality.
Cizre Events and the Kurdish Question
Cizre Apo`yu dinlemiyor mu? Commenting on the ongoing protests in Cizre despite Abdullah Öcalan’s call for non-voilence, Oral Çalışlar asks whether Cizre’s youth take his advice and commands seriously.
“Devlet dersinde öldürülmüş” çocuklar listesi The list of the children who were killed by the state is updated after fourteen-year-old Ümit Kurt and twelve-year-old Nihat Kazanhan were killed by police in Cizre.
Devletin Cizre manipülasyonu Fatih Polat argues that the state targets Cizre, killing children and youth, precisely because Cizre operates outside the realm of state’s authority.
AKP saldırıları durdursun, Cizre normale döner Bese Hozat argues that protests and clashes in Cizre would stop only if the AKP puts an end to its attacks on Cizre.
Öcalan`a özgürlüğün zamanı gelmedi mi? Ragıp Zarakolu argues that the only way to spearhead normalization and democratization in Turkey is to set Abdullah Öcalan free.
Foreign Relations
Ankara IŞİD’le mücadeleyi sabote eden taraf olmamalı Lale Kemal calls for Turkey to join the coalition led by the US in order to fight ISIS.
El-Kaide neden Erdoğan ziyareti öncesinde bombaladı? Muraty Yetkin asks why al-Qa‘ida bombed the Turkish delegation’s hotel in Somali just before President Erdoğan arrived.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Türkiye’nin zayıflarla dolu hayvan hakları karnesi Ahmet Kemal Şenpolat evaluates the legal aspects of animal rights in Turkey.
Rabbim yardım etti, ilk trans sığınma evini açtık Ezgi Başaran’s interview with Öykü Ay about the opening of the first transgender shelter in Turkey.
Hapishaneler öldürüyor Enver Sezgin draws attention to the urgent condition of sick prisoners who are still held imprisoned despite deteriorating health conditions.
90`lar Türkiyesinde "yabancı" gazeteci olmak Leena Reikko examines how it looked to be a “foreign” journalist in 1990’s Turkey.
Metalde grev var – İrfan Kaygısız ile söyleşi An interview with İrfan Kaygısız on metal workers’ ongoing strike.
Published on Jadaliyya
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Soma, Ermenek, Yirca: Can Anti-Coal Activists Defend Coal Miners and Olive Farmers?