[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
AKP, Draft Security Bill, Authoritarianism
Clear Intervention in Judiciary Günal Kurşun points out that the government’s arbitrary interventions into the judiciary have become systematic and widespread after the 17 December bribery and corruption operations.
The "Holy Case" “The AK Party is putting forth a new objective, which forms the moral bases of their political struggle: the ‘Holy Case,’” writes Abdülkadir Selvi, evaluating the history of the ruling AKP.
How Will Turkey Remain Governable? Semih İdiz argues that given Erdoğan’s blatant authoritarian tendencies and his well-known fury against his opponents, it is an open question how Turkey will remain governable if this trend continues—let alone how it will remain a democracy.
Judges Liked by the AKP in Top Positions, at Last “The elections in the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeals mark a new phase in the AK Parti’s rule of more than twelve years, and the top judiciary can no longer be presumed as an adversary for the government,” writes Murat Yetkin.
AKP`s Views on Sexuality Create Uproar Pınar Tremblay argues that President Erdoğan’s dream of raising a "pious generation" fails to deal with taboo matters of sexuality, especially given the skyrocketing number of cases of violence against women, rape, sexual harassment, and hate murders.
Turkey Offers Cash Rewards for Marrying Early Zülfikar Doğan reports that the AKP government is offering incentives to encourage university students to get married before graduation and to have more than three children.
Why Did Turkey Seize Bank Asya? Mehmet Çetingüleç writes about the government’s seizure of Bank Asya, owned by business people close to the Gülen community.
Is Turkey Becoming a Police State? Semih ldiz presents the critics of the AKP’s proposed Domestic Security Bill, who argue that the implementation of the draft law would turn Turkey into a police state by providing security forces with extensive powers to suppress the government’s opponents.
The Traditional Turkish Bigman Joost Lagendjik examines the reasons for the persistent success of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling party despite Turkey`s obvious turn toward autocracy and soft-Islamization since 2011.
Davutoğlu`s Tragedy Kadri Gürsel argues that Prime Minister Davutoğlu has failed to escape the shadow of President Erdoğan.
Are We that Naïve? “Why this ardent defense of the presidential system if it neither promises more democracy nor is about reducing arbitrariness and unaccountability in administration?” asks Doğu Ergil.
What Happened in Turkey in Erdoğan’s Absence? Summarizing recent political happenings in Turkey, Serkan Demirtaş argues that Prime Minister Davutoğlu has started to play his own game against President Erdoğan’s growing suppression of his own government.
Hakan Fidan’s Resignation
Turkey`s Intelligence Czar Resigns to Run for Office Pınar Tremblay reports that Hakan Fidan, former head of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), had resigned, and that this means that Fidan would be running to become a deputy for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the 7 June parliamentary elections.
Erdoğan’s Authority Challenged by Davutoğlu and Fidan Murat Yetkin writes that President Tayyip Erdoğan admitted publicly that he failed to convince Hakan Fidan to stay in office and that it was rather Prime Minister Davutoğlu who wanted Fidan to run, while Erdoğan was vehemently opposed to it.
Fidan’s Political March “What does Hakan Fidan’s candidacy come to mean, despite President Erdoğan’s `don’t become a candidate` words?” asks Abdülkadir Selvi.
What Does the Future Hold for Hakan Fidan? Semih İdiz speculates about what would happen after Hakan Fidan becomes a deputy, arguing that his presence in the AKP would change all power balances.
Questions Fidan Will Be Asked on TV Emre Uslu lists a set of question that he would like to ask Hakan Fidan, among them questions dealing with controversial issues during Fidan’s service as National Intelligence head.
Turkey Spy Chief’s Resignation: Power Play or Family Feud? “Is there a Davutoğlu-Fidan alliance in the making against Erdogan?” asks Amberin Zaman.
June Elections
The Opposition’s Federalist Turn Doğan Eşkinat argues that the CHP, the main opposition party, recently maneuvered toward federalism mostly in order to consolidate Alevi votes.
CHP Takes out Heavy Guns for Istanbul Ahead of General Elections According to Özgür Korkmaz, Istanbul will be the main battleground for the main opposition CHP in the June elections.
Electoral Period Starts Osman Can reports that Prime Minister Davutoğlu declared the AKP’s three main electoral principles to be unity, freedom, and justice.
The HDP’s Dance with the Election Threshold Etyen Mahçupyan argues that the HDP should change its “think what will happen if we stay outside Parliament” discourse in order to attract votes from supporters of the main opposition CHP.
The Status of the Rulership and Opposition… Ali Bayramoğlu suggests that the HDP will be attracting all the reactions against the AKP to itself, and in that case the HDP can break the AKP’s power in the upcoming elections.
Foreign Relations
Turkey Accused of Escalating Violence in Egypt “Egyptians suspect Turkey of allowing Muslim Brotherhood affiliates to provoke violence in their country,” writes Fehim Taştekin.
Delusion of Relying on İncirlik as an Asset for US-Turkish Ties Barçın Yinanç questions whether Washington is thinking about replacing the US military base, Incirlik, in Turkey with a new one in northern Iraq.
Syrian Turkmens Are Forgotten Ally in War against Islamic State Metin Gürcan reminds us that Syrian Turkmens say they can play a key role in fighting IS in northern Syria.
Barzani Should Also Respect Turkey’s Interests İlnur Çevik argues that Barzani’s agreement with the US to convert Arbil airport into a US military base is a slap in the face to Turkey and cannot be tolerated.
Hollande-PYD Meeting Challenges Erdoğan “French President Francois Hollande, by hosting at Elysee Palace two Kurdish female leaders from Kobane, sends a strong message to Ankara,” writes Fehim Taştekin.
Turkey and Latin America İbrahim Kalın suggests that President Erdoğan`s three-country trip to Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico underlines the importance Turkey attaches to this part of the world.
Turkey’s Emerging Power Politics in Latin America Sadık Ünay argues that the leadership in Turkey is adamant about expanding diplomatic and commercial contacts to a whole new level, as exemplified by President Erdoğan’s recent trips to Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico.
Economy
2014 Growth could Rise to 2.6-2.7 Percent Kerem Alkın writes that the Turkish economy, which grew by 9.2 percent in 2010 and 8.5 percent in 2011, displayed a serious braking effect by growing only 2.2 percent in 2012 and 4.1 percent in 2013.
Who Will Be Held Accountable for the Dollar’s Rise? Ünsal Bal explains the reason behind the rise in the exchange rate.
New Turkey’s First Representation at the G20 According to Erdal Tanaş Karagöl, Turkey’s G20 presidency caused hope and presented a model for less-developed countries.
Growth on a Bad Shape Seyfettin Gürsel warns about the low growth trend that has been prevailing since 2012.
Turkish
Özgecan Aslan / Femicide In Turkey
Biz size hiç güvenmedik aslında… Bu ülkede doğduğumuza hiç sevinemedik… Mourning for Özgecan Aslan, a twenty-year-old university student who was brutally raped, stabbed to death, and whose body then was burnt and thrown into a stream by three men, Hürrem Sönmez declares that the women of Turkey will never forget those who were murdered, will not surrender to the world of men, and will continue to fight.
Bu ülkeden iğrenmeyenden de iğreniyorum Mustafa Alp Dağıstanlı lists his reasons for being “disgusted” with Turkey, and underlies the importance of this feeling as a prerequisite to any societal change.
Özgecan’ın ardından Türkiye’ye açık mektup: İkiyüzlülüğü bırakın artık! Discussing the public responses to Özgecan Aslan’s murder, Duygu Yazıcıoğlu concludes that “in a two-faced society where female sexuality and women’s rights are discussed only through dramatic scenarios, and where all that is discussed is women’s victimhood, there is no room or reason for women to be empowered.”
Aradaki Fark Dilek Zaptçıoğlu calls for an emphasis on women’s individual agency and distinguishes the aims of an “equality-based Islamic women’s movement” from the goals of a “liberation-based secular feminism.”
AKP, Security, Authoritarianism
Erdoğan’ın 28 Şubat itirafı According to Mehmet Kamış, the fact that the government fights fiercely with the Gülen movement shows that they have committed more crimes than those in charge of the 28 February period.
`Güçsüzlüğün` itirafıdır İhsan Çaralan thinks the fact that the AKP is preparing to pass a new security bill to implement “more power” and “more violence” is a testimony to its weakness.
Hrant Dink’in katilinin sessiz ve otoriter dönüşü Emrah Altındiş states that article 301, which led to Hrant Dink’s murder, is again at work with Eren Keskin, a recognized human rights lawyer, being sentenced to ten months for her commentary on the Turkish state.
Şimdi laikliği savunma zamanı Nuray Mert calls for a defence of secularism, which dethrones religion from positions of political authority and legitimacy, as the only means to social peace and democracy.
Hakan Fidan’s Resignation
Fidan, Gündoğdu, 400 vekil hayali... İhsan Çaralan thinks that Hakan Fidan’s resignation from his position as the head of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) is a sign of Erdoğan’s desire to make him the Prime Minister.
Hakan Fidan Nuriye Akman wonders if the public will learn more about Fidan’s extremely private life now that he is planning to run for deputy in the general elections.
Erdoğan`a rağmen, Erdoğan`ın hoşlanmadığı, Erdoğan`ı tedirgin eden şeyler oluyor… According to Doğan Akın, the Fidan conflict revealed Erdoğan’s insecurity in controlling even his closest men in the current parliamentary system.
MİT Müsteşarı kaçtı mı? Ciğdem Anad thinks that learning how Fidan’s and Erdoğan’s perspectives differ might provide insight into what dangers the future will bring.
Fidan`ın istifası ve Kozinoğlu`nun akıbeti According to Fatih Polat, Fidan resigned to escape from the consequences his former counterparts faced, including a suspicious death in the case of Kaşif Kozinoğlu.
Fidan’ın istifası: Herkes ters köşe oldu Ruşen Çakır describes the surprise that different political actors—the AKP electorate, Erdoğan, Davutoğlu, and others—experienced regarding Fidan’s resignation.
Fidan’ın istifası üzerine düşünceler Ruşen CakIr tries to decipher the meaning of Fidan`s resignation for the country’s near future by addressing the intricacies of the Erdoğan-Fidan relationship.
Hakan Fidan gitti, çözüm süreci bitti mi? According to Ezgi Başaran, Fidan’s resignation will "fortunately" not harm the peace process.
June Elections & the HDP’s Elections Strategy
Muhalefet için 7 Haziran dersleri ve imkânlar Akdoğan Özkan reports striking data from a recent public poll regarding economic and political issues that could be used by the opposition.
HDP`nin baraj sınavı: Riskler ve imkânlar Murat Paker lists the reasons why he believes the HDP can exceed the ten percent threshold and suggests strategies to increase its chances.
AKP’ye karşı demokrasi bloğu Adil Bayram calls for a unified oppositional front among “democracy forces” that does not involve the mainstream opposition party the CHP to prevent an unchallenged election victory on the AKP’s part.
HDP’nin seçimi Mesut Yeğen writes that there is nothing mystical about the HDP’s decision to enter the elections as a party—and not as independent candidates—and it can easily be explained by its political strategy and conjectures.
`400 vekil`lik direnme` Mustafa Yalçıner thinks Erdoğan’s aim to get four hundred AKP deputies in the next elections is unreasonable and arrogant.
HDP`nin oyları şaşırtıcı yükseklikte olabilir According to Alper Görmüş, the HDP’s votes could be unexpectedly high as the secular electorate hates the AKP and is also losing faith in the CHP.
Seçim matematiği Metin Yeğin thinks the only reasonable strategy to prevent the AKP from winning is to vote for the HDP, as a slight increase in the CHP’s votes would not be enough to change the current inequalities in parliamentary representation.
HDP’nin seçim stratejisi Yüksel Taşkın disagrees with the HDP’s decision to enter the elections as a party as, he thinks, it would be a meaningless risk in terms of an increase in representativeness in the parliament.
CHP risk almalı Yüksel Taşkın argues that the CHP should take a risk and engage in major structural changes in order not to lose its electorate.
30, 10`dan büyük, 10, 30`dan önemlidir! According to Vedat İlbeyoğlu, all oppositional forces should vote for the HDP to help it exceed the ten percent threshold, as its significance would be more far more influential than any increase in the CHP’s votes.
Bunun adı ‘başkanlık tartışması’ değil, soytarılık Murat Sevinç argues that the AKP uses public discussion as a means of increasing its legitimacy, and discussions around the presidential regime also serves this purpose, and should be avoided altogether.
16 yıl sonra `yeni` Öcalan… Cengiz Çandar points out the massive change in how Abdullah Öcalan has been portrayed in the mainstream media and in politics during his sixteen-year-old imprisonment.
Postponement of Metal Workers’ Strike
Metal işçilerinin ertelenen grevi ve ertelenemez gündemi Metin Özügürlü argues that the capitalists’ strategy of forcing low pay with the threat of unsecured jobs implemented since 2000 has come to a deadlock.
Burjuvazinin devleti, işçinin sınıf gücü Cihan Soylu thinks that the spreading of the strike, despite the ban, among workers in other related sectors would have forced the government to change its current position.
Foreign Relations
Yolsuzluğu affetmeyen komşu! Abdülhamit Bilici attributes the increase in Iran’s prestige and decrease in that of Turkey in the international arena to their respective political stances against corruption.
Türkiye, bir iyi fırsatı daha boşa harcamamalı Joost Lagendijk points to a potential role that Turkey might play in the United Nations Security Council.
Economy
Merkez Bankası vatana ihanet mi ediyor? Mehmet Çetingüleç criticizes Erdoğan’s attempts to manipulate the decisions of the Central Bank.
Piyasa diktatöre boyun eğer mi? According to Mümtaz’er Türköne, the AKP may manipulate politics with its media power, but economic figures show signs of weakness and resistance to Erdoğan’s authoritarian tendencies.
Ahmet İnsel: Sayılarla gaza gelmemek Ahmet İnsel thinks the opposition’s interpretation of economic figures are not always accurate and a more realistic depiction is urgently needed.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Soykırımın 100. yılında bir ozür borcumuz! Füsun Erdoğan demands an apology for Armenian socialist Levon Ekmekciyan, who was tortured and hanged during 1980 military coup, especially at the one hundredth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Kadınların sendikadaki yokluğu işçi sınıfının yoksunluğu Sevda Karaca underlies the need of women for unions under increasingly harsher working conditions and unions’ need for women’s participation.
Published on Jadaliyya
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Charlie Hebdo ve Cumhuriyetin Sınırları