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[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
Interim Government and Early Elections
Why a Coalition Could Not Be Formed (1) - (2) Etyen Mahçupyan argues that the MHP and the CHP are responsible for prohibiting the formation of a coalition government and are thereby the reason for the early election.
Elections Security Becomes Key Issue in November 1 Elections İlnur Çevik claims that the PKK was “herding the village people to the polls forcing them to vote for the HDP” in the 7 June elections, and calls upon the government to take steps to prevent this in the early elections.
The Election Results and Turkey`s Next Government Claiming that it would be in the opposition parties’ best interest to accept the AKP’s existence, Taha Özhan, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister, writes “Shutting one`s eyes and daydreaming about ‘the sixty percent’ might work for now, but somebody needs to tell the country`s opposition parties that Mr. Erdoğan will still be there when they open their eyes.”
The Road to Early Elections According to Yahya Bostan, there are fractures among the leadership of the HDP that have caused it damage in the early days of the election campaign.
What Will Be New at Congress? Abdülkadir Selvi states that everything that has transpired since the 7 June elections is an indication of the Turkish public’s need for a single party government.
The Elections Agenda: Can AK Party Form the Government? Markar Esayan writes that the HDP has collapsed but is still being protected by the Doğan media group, the parallel structure, and the international media.
What and How Will the Voters Prefer? Ali Bayramoğlu suggests that voters will make their decisions in the early election based upon the issue of stability, the Kurdish question, and the parties’ conduct during coalition negotiations.
Codes of the New Cabinet With the formation of an interim government that contains two members of the HDP, Doğu Ergil argues that the AKP will lose even more to the HDP in the new election
That Thankless National Will Cengiz Aktar points out the irony that Erdoğan campaigned for president under the banner of the “national will” and is now rejecting the will shown by voters in the June elections.
Uncharted Areas in Turkey`s Domestic Politics Yaşar Yakış appraises the interim government’s formation as a good sign that “Turkish democracy is still functioning despite all its irregularities.”
Turkey Needs to Transcend This Barrier Cafer Solgun suggests that there is a possibility the government may try to delay the elections because the AKP is losing votes in the polls.
God Wanted a New Election According to Orhan Kemal Cengiz, the AKP’s political use of Islam leaves “no room for any kind of accountability, liability, or for any responsibility at all.”
Turkey Rushes to Its Most Chaotic Election Ever Serkan Demirtaş writes about the problem of national security in the upcoming election, which has been the subject of recent debate within Turkey’s National Security Council.
Markets Still Want Coalition after Turkey`s Re-Election Erdal Sağlam interviews foreign investors about their confidence in the Turkish government and their desired outcome in the upcoming election.
The Crackdown on Freedoms Should Unite the Opposition Ömer Taşpınar argues that the recent arrests of domestic and international journalists proves that Turkish democracy has once again been reduced to the ballot box.
Kurdish Politics and the Peace Process
The Iraqi Kurds` Waning Love Affair with Turkey According to Amberin Zaman, relations between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Regional Government look likely to deteriorate as Turkey escalates its war against the Kurdistan Workers Party.
And the PKK Turns Its Attention to Killing Civilians İlnur Çevik accuses the HDP of relying on the PKK’s attacks to make their political claims.
PKK`s Urban War According to Emre Uslu, the PKK had more autonomy in Turkish Kurdistan during the peace and reconciliation process as opposed to the current declarations of autonomy while under the Turkish government’s declared state of emergency.
The End of the Paradox in Turkey Ömer Taşpınar claims that Erdoğan’s increasing authoritarian tendencies were at odds with his will to resolve the Kurdish problem prior to the elections.
Re-Elections in Turkey amid the Escalating Kurdish Problem Murat Yetkin claims that, in spite of the upheaval with the Kurdish issue, there are no polls that give the AKP any hope of forming a single-party government.
The Kurdish Saga Nuray Mert tries to find a reason as to why the PKK changed strategy by looking at possible tensions among the PKK, the HDP, and Abdullah Öcalan about the Kurdish movement’s priorities.
Turkey`s Peace Process Still On Verda Özer claims that the only way to make the PKK drop their weapons is for the ruling party to integrate the HDP into the system.
PKK Looks to the Future with Creation of Youth Militias Metin Gurcan writes that spiraling urban violence is spearheaded by the PKK’s young militias.
The AKP and President Erdoğan’s Ambitions
Twelve Months with President Erdoğan Amanda Paul assesses Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s tenure as president after a year in office, claiming that she “cannot think of a single positive thing to say.”
Peace or Presidency? Abdülhamit Bilici argues that President Erdoğan was only interested in peace when it seemed to offer him a route to the presidential system he desires.
The Unbearable Lightness of Media in Erdogan’s Turkey Cengiz Candar states that police raids on pro-Gülen media outlets are seen as a prelude to suppressing the media opposed to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to the snap elections.
Politics of Farce in Turkey According to Nuray Mert, “Turkey’s difficulties...stem from being an experiment in a non-Western modernity and illiberal democracy.”
An Orwellian Nightmare Semih İdiz compares President Erdoğan’s manner of rule with that of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, claiming in particular that both are trying to “stage manage” the upcoming elections in each country.
Are Turkey`s AKP Twitter Trolls Heading for Unemployment? Emre Kizilkaya thinks that if the AKP fails to decisively win the upcoming elections, one can expect a thorough liquidation not only of its questionable social media organization, but also its radio and television operations.
As Turkey`s Consumer Confidence Plummets, What Does That Mean for the AKP? Kadri Gursel states that Turkey’s consumer confidence index—a key indicator that is closely correlated with the AKP’s electoral showings—is on the decline, signaling further losses for the party in the 1 November early elections.
Aylan Kurdi and the Syrian Refugee Crisis
European Countries to Turkey: We Pay, You Keep Syrian Refugees Barin Kayaoglu thinks that Syrian refugees are the new ping-pong between EU countries and Turkey.
Stop the Syrian War, Stop the Refugee Influx (1) - (2) Murat Yetkin suggests that the best way for NATO leaders to stem the tide of refugees is to work harder to bring an end to the war in Syria.
Aylan Kurdi`s Call on Humanity Şahin Alpay claims that the international community has turned its back on its humanitarian responsibilities in Syria as well as other countries haunted by the legacy of colonial intervention, while Turkey has not.
Refugees: Very Useful Victims Samim Akgönül examines the state of refugees according to Turkish law, where refugees are legally defined as people escaping war in Europe prior to 1951.
Aylan Kurdi According to Joost Lagendijk, President Erdoğan has placed the blame for the refugee crisis on Europe, eliding the Turkish government’s role in deepening the issue.
Little Aylan: Immigration and Human Trafficking Beril Dedeoğlu suggests that the resources directed toward building walls to keep refugees out of Europe and Turkey should be redirected toward dismantling the “human trafficking” organizations behind the transit of refugees across the Mediterranean.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Turkey`s `Foot-Dragging` on Fight Against IS Continues Semih Idiz reports from various diplomatic resources many of whom agree that Turkey’s sincerity will be judged by its determination to continue its active support of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State.
Turkey Takes on the Islamic State...in Forty-Page Report Mustafa Akyol writes about Turkey`s Directorate of Religious Affairs, which has issued a forty-page report that condemns not just the Islamic State, but also "political Salafism."
Is Turkey Driving Down Road to Environmental Disaster? “The Turkish government’s Green Road Project has turned the quiet residents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s home region into feisty street protesters as they struggle to protect the environment on which their livelihoods and traditions rely,” writes Pinar Tremblay.
Turkish
Interim Government and Early Elections
Seçimlere giderken MHP’de neler oluyor? Doğan Çetinkaya writes about the internal conflict in the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) that made headlines this week.
Seçmen bütünleme sınavında ne yapacak? Analyzing voter behavior in the upcoming early elections, Bekir Ağırdır argues that security will be an important concern for voters.
Diyarbakır`dan bakınca 1 Kasım seçimi… Fehim Işık writes about what different Kurdish people, groups, and NGOs in Diyarbakır think about early elections.
Siyasal satranç Ragıp Zarakolu finds the AKP’s plans for going to early elections to be like a game of “political chess” that is bound to fail at the end.
Nankor milli irade Cengiz Çandar accuses the AKP of reading the behavior of non-AKP supporters as the “irrational behavior of deceived, cheated, trapped voters.”
Bitmeyen seçim ekranı Aylin Dağsağgüler criticizes the lack of freedom of speech and objectivity on television as Turkey goes to early elections.
Kurdish Politics and the Peace Process
Kürtler barikatlarda, canlı kalkanlar dağlarda: `Devletin rahat durmasını bekliyoruz` Celal Başlangıç reports from Silvan, Lice, Cizre, and Silopi, where curfews, shootings, killings, and lack of accountability from the state are rampant.
Ovada siyaset bazen dağda savaştan daha güçtür Oya Baydar thinks that choosing to do politics over continuing the armed conflict would be a revolutionary act for peace.
Demokratik özerklik Türkiye’nin demokratikleşme çözümüdür Bese Hozat, co-chair of the executive council of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), argues that democratic autonomy is the solution for democracy in Turkey.
Adını koyalım… Hayko Bağdat asserts that democratic forces in the country should pressure the government to a ceasefire to stop the deaths, since the AKP will eventually have to end its security policy and sit down at the peace table.
Siddete karsi siyaset Enver Sezgin urges the PKK to take seriously the HDP co-president Selahattin Demirtaş’ call for armistice, and argues that “politics only” will be enough for putting an end to the state’s violence.
‘Çözüm süreci` niye çöktü? Şahin Alpay argues that the AKP ended the peace and reconciliation process after the HDP announced that it will not collaborate with the AKP and support Erdoğan’s plans for a presidential regime.
The AKP and President Erdoğan’s Ambitions
AK Parti, tek adam ve Erdoğan olgusu Oral Çalışlar argues that although President Erdoğan has created a “leader cult” for AKP supporters, “middle class conservative” voters who might want democratization and be uncomfortable about Erdogan’s uncompromising image also constitute an important component of the AKP.
Ey muhbir vatandaş, ey muhbirci devlet: Mükafatınız sizin, haysiyetimiz bizim olsun Hürrem Sönmez criticizes the AKP’s new decision to reward locals who “give information” about anyone who “looks suspect” in their neighborhood.
‘Erdoğan nefreti’ ve yeni Türkiye’yi anlamak Umut Özkırımlı argues that it is impossible to understand contemporary politics and today’s Turkey without understanding the “hatred against Erdogan.”
Evet, istikrar mutlaka devam etmeli According to Mümtazer Türköne, President Erdoğan is the only obstacle to political and economic stability in Turkey.
Halkın iradesi tersyüz edilemez Şahin Alpay writes that the AKP is ignoring the national will for democratization and criticizes its pressure and control over media.
Davutoğlu`nun ederi? (1) - (2) Mümtazer Türköne thinks President Erdoğan used Prime Minister Davutoglu to get past difficult times and that he is the first President to punish all his critics on charges of “insulting the President.”
AKP Devleti According to Güneş Duru, the only way to fight the new “AKP State” is for the PKK to hand over the leadership to civil politics, that is, the HDP, which was founded according to the ideas and suggestions of Abdullah Ocalan himself.
Aylan Kurdi and the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Bodrum’da yüzüstü yatan Kobanêli çocuğu kim öldürdü? Yücel Özdemir mourns for Aylan Kurdi, the twelve-year-old boy from Kobane whose body washed onto the shore in the resort district of Bodrum.
Suriyeli Aylan’ın katili biraz da bizleriz! Nurcan Baysal writes that Turkey is also responsible for the Syrian refugee crisis and those who die while trying to escape to other countries like Aylan Kurdi.
Mültecileri görünür kılmak Işın Eliçin writes about the importance of giving a name and a face to refugees to increase their visibility.
Kod adi Suriyeli (1)-(2) Sezin Öney emphasizes that Turkey should stop condemning Europe, and instead, it should address its own refugee crisis.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Sayın Kılıçdaroğlu, ‘bilmem ki halamgil ne der’ psikolojisinden vazgeçmelisiniz… Murat Sevinç writes that for CHP leader Sayin Kilicdaroglu, “it is not enough to be a good person,” and that Kilicdaroglu needs to take risks and make the right decisions.
‘Savaşa hayır’ demek ve barış için alanlara! İhsan Çaralan calls everyone to “September 1, International Day of Peace” to say no to war.
Barış algısı Nilgün Tunçcan Ongan writes about a study from the University of Sinop that examines Turkish students’ representations of peace.
Published on Jadaliyya
Ottomanism with a Greek Face: An Interview with Vangelis Kechriotis
`What Does the State Want from Dead Bodies?`: Suruç and the History of Unmournability
Ekin Wan’ın bedeninde ifşa olan devlet ya da kadınlar sıra bizde
