Turkey Analyst, 23 April 2008

NEWS DIGEST, April 9-22, 2008

SECTION II: WHAT THE COLUMNISTS SAY

Turkish newspapers are bought as much for the writings of their columnists as for news. The writings of leading columnists are therefore an important indication of developments and moods in Turkey.

ÖZKÖK: DOES EU CARE ABOUT WESTERN LIFESTYLE?
While being opposed to the dissolution of AKP, Ertugrul Özkök (liberal), editor-in-chief of Hürriyet, admits being annoyed by the statements of EU officials that such a decision would derail Turkey’s membership process. Özkök, a staunch supporter of the EU, calls on them to pay attention to the worries of Turks like himself, those who cherish a Western way of life. Addressing the president of the EU commission, Ertugrul Özkök asks whether José Manuel Barroso would have remained indifferent if millions of people in his own country had felt their way of life to be under threat. Since that is hard to imagine, Özkök asks why Barroso has abstained from displaying the slightest interest in the fate of such people in Turkey. He called on Barroso to seek their opinion as well.

AKYOL: ETHNIC DIVISION SALIENT
Taha Akyol (conservative) in Milliyet, writes that Turkey’s division along ethnic lines is much more troubling than the secular-religious divide. The latter could be easily solved, Akyol continues, if only traditional secularism which confines religion to the spiritual sphere would be redefined as democratic secularism. But overcoming ethnic division is a far greater challenge. Sociological modernization and economic development do not automatically mitigate ethnic and nationalist consciousness. On the contrary, nationalism has often been kindled by modernization, he notes. Akyol calls for a revision of the unitary state ideology, and sees hope in the fact that the military displays less rigidity about cultural pluralism than has been the case historically.

ÜLSEVER:  AKP CONVERSION PUZZLING
Cüneyt Ülsever (liberal) in Hürriyet, admits being confused by the AKP:s sudden conversion to Kemalism. Ülsever questions the sincerity of Prime Minister Erdogan when he refers to Kemal Ataturk and proclaims to be a champion of the secularism instituted by the founder of the republic. There is no consistency in the rhetoric and actions of the AKP, Ülsever writes. Erdogan is either an EU enthusiast and democrat reborn in earnest, or an Islamic militant hiding his intentions behind references to Ataturk and EU. “I don’t know which is right”, he ends.

BERKAN: TURKEY’S FUTURE INSECURE, BLEAK
Ismet Berkan (liberal) in Radikal sees Turkey’s future as uncertain and as potentially bleak. He writes that the AKP can choose either to change the constitution as to evade dissolution or defend itself in front of the judges and public opinion. So far, the party is keeping its options open. In the longer run, the uncertainties are even greater. Turkish democracy and the stability of Turkey are at risk. We don’t know how this will end, if and how Turkey will be able to surmount the crisis, Berkan writes. In addition, he sees an economic crisis looming.

CEMAL: CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR
Hasan Cemal (liberal) in Milliyet addresses three questions to those who fault the AKP government’s policies for Turkey’s crisis: Do you really find it compatible with the rule of law and democracy to threaten the AKP with dissolution? Are you really convinced that a ban would lead Turkey in a better direction? And doesn’t it occur to you that a party that you happen to dislike should be combated at the ballot box? Don’t forget that pinning our hopes on coups, on solutions outside the boundaries of the law and democracy will have results far more scary than your present fears.

The Turkey Analyst
The Turkey Analyst is a publication of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Joint Center, designed to bring authoritative analysis and news on the rapidly developing domestic and foreign policy issues in Turkey. It is published weekly, and includes a topical analysis, as well as translations and summaries of selected Turkish news reports. It is edited and compiled under the supervision of Svante E. Cornell, Halil M. Karaveli, and M. K. Kaya.

The analyses appearing in the Turkey Analyst are unsigned, being the consensus view of the three Editors. The Turkey Analyst occasionally publishes signed guest analyses, which are normally solicited.

The Joint Center
The Joint Center was created in 2005 through the merger of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and the Silk Road Studies Program, at the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy.

The Turkey Initiative
The Joint Center launched a Turkey Initiative in 2006 in order to improve understand of Turkish domestic and foreign affairs in Europe and the United States.

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