[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
Peace and Reconciliation Process
All Parties See They Cannot Afford to End Peace Process İlnur Çevik argues that the Turkish and Kurdish leadership need to focus on the goal of peace and overlook the challenges that continue to plague the process.
A National Observer for the Reconciliation Process Abdülkadir Selvi writes about the advantages of having a third-party interlocutor in the reconciliation process.
İmralı Talks Time… According to Yusuf Kanlı, any further developments in the peace process, even those involving the potential new third party mediator, will necessarily have to engage closely with Abdullah Öcalan.
What Is the US Role in the Kurdish Peace Process? Serkan Demirtaş examines the problems and advantages posed by potential US involvement in the peace process.
The Peace Train, Once Again Ali Bayramoğlu claims that the will to peace is strong even though the peace process has become more complicated with recent developments in Rojava as well as the US involvement in the process.
Asphyxiating the Violence… Markar Esayan argues that the PKK leadership in the Qandil mountains are attempting to derail the peace process by fomenting unrest and violence in Turkey.
Will Kurds Be Free Under PKK Rule? Examining a HRW report on the PYD’s governmental practices in Rojava, Orhan Kemal Cengiz claims that Kurdish autonomy under the PKK would be as coercive as the regime from which it seeks freedom.
Will PKK Bid Farewell to Arms? Comparing the PKK to ISIL, Mümtazer Türköne claims that the PKK cannot imagine itself as a non-violent organization.
Erdoğan as President
Erdoğan Abuses Islam and Cuban Muslims (1)-(2) İhsan Yılmaz claims that Erdoğan uses the discourse of Islam in order to strengthen his ego, and that he is trying to model his presidency after that of Vladimir Putin.
Erdoğan Attempts to Bury Policy Failures by Rewriting History Pınar Tremblay argues that Erdoğan’s controversial statements about the discovery of the Americas are an effort to distract attention from his government’s domestic and foreign policy failures.
In Erdoğan`s World, Two and Two May Well Equal Five According to Caleb Lauer, Erdoğan’s absurd and erratic claims “bait anti-government and anti-political Islam polemics in Turkey and the international press, which in turn help him consolidate his constituency even further.”
New Presidential Palace Is a Storm in a Teacup İlnur Çevik suggests that criticisms of the new presidential palace are greatly exaggerated because Erdoğan and his team built it for the good of Turkey.
From Atatürk to Erdoğan: Turks Rewrite History Mustafa Akyol asserts that, although the AK Party imagines itself as a “New Turkey,” in fact, it maintains the same rigid ideology of state dominance that prevailed in the “Old Turkey.”
Rewriting History Joost Lagendijk compares Erdoğan’s efforts to rewrite history with those of Vladimir Putin as a vengeful resistance to Western domination and a covering up of contemporary injustices.
Despite Differences, Turkey and Russia Forge On Semih İdiz predicts that Turkey and Russia will remain pragmatic political allies in spite of the tensions over issues like Syria, Ukraine, and Cyprus.
Where Erdoğan Falls Short of Putin Şahin Alpay claims that the similarities between Erdoğan and Putin have grown since the comparison was first made, but that the particular histories of each country maintain a set of stark differences between the leaders as well.
Rampant Arrogance of Turkey’s Islamists Abdullah Bozkurt criticizes the use of the public money for Erdoğan’s new presidential palace.
Military`s Role Broadens in `New Turkey` “Since taking his seat as Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has thrown himself into the role of commander-in-chief and drawn the armed forces closer into the political realm and manipulated security concerns to serve his agenda,” writes an unnamed correspondent.
Domestic Politics
AKP Condemns One Tragedy But Downplays Another “The AKP has pummeled the opposition CHP party for its responsibility in the 1937 Dersim tragedy, but has avoided discussing past mistakes made by Islamists,” writes Tülin Daloğlu.
Will CHP Face Its Dark Past? Mustafa Akyol argues that for the CHP to become a real alternative to the AKP, it should start facing its dark past.
Why Are Börü’s and Çetin’s Lynchers Not Being Punished? Orhan Kemal Cengiz criticizes the fact that the government did not attempt to identify the perpetrators of several lynching cases where Kurdish civilians were murdered.
The Irrelevance of the Spy Commission Lale Kemal argues that the new parliamentary Security and Intelligence Commission is irrelevant because the law gives Turkey`s intelligence agency extraordinary power and legal impunity.
Sevag Balıkçı, Berkin Elvan, Yasin Börü, Mahir Çetin, All Still Dead Günal Kurşun writes about unidentified murders in Turkey, whose perpetrators are often security and armed forces.
Kılıçdaroğlu`s `Old` Politics Etyen Mahçupyan argues that most probably the AKP will reach around fifty percent in the upcoming general elections.
CHP: Hard to Stand Against Religious, Ethnic-Based Politics Serkan Demirtaş reports that the CHP’s pre-election campaigns will address foreign policy, the economy, unemployment, and poverty.
Foreign Policy
Which Way, Ankara and Tehran? Ali Yurttagül examines recent developments in Turkish-Iranian relations and how they have been influenced by personality clashes between Erdoğan and Khamenei.
Trust Issue in Foreign Policy Ali Bulaç contends that Turkey’s recent foreign policy blunders have made it a less reliable ally for the west in the region.
EU, EP, and New Turkey Ozan Ceyhun believes that the European Union and European Parliament, caught in a number of political and economic quagmires, are squandering their opportunity to work with the New Turkey built by Erdoğan.
Different Views on Turkey-Armenia Border Issue Cavid Veliyev encourages the Turkish government to focus on its relations with Azerbaijan as it contemplates the political and economic concerns related to the potential opening of the border between Turkey and Armenia.
Bordering on Terrorism: Turkey`s Syria Policy and the Rise of the Islamic State In a recently released report, Jonathan Schanzer and Merve Tahiroğlu explore the complex geopolitical relationships between Turkey, Syria, the Islamic State, and the United States in the Turkish borderlands.
Davutoğlu`s Wishful Thinking According to Semih İdiz, statements from Davutoğlu that the United States is supporting Turkish foreign policy are at odds with statements from the United States itself.
Near Future of US-Turkey Relations Yahya Bostan examines tensions between Turkey and the United States on issues like Israel, Kurdish oil, and Syria.
Sow the Wind and Reap the Whirlwind Melih Altınok condemns what he sees as an anti-Turkish double standard in the US media’s response to the assault on US sailors in Istanbul.
Turkish Military Support to Afghanistan Rises Metin Turcan examines Turkey’s engagement with the Afghan army as other governments are downsizing their military assistance.
Turkey Damaging Ties with Latin America According to Abdullah Bozkurt, the Turkish government’s efforts to build a mosque in Cuba are “tantamount to efforts to proselytize Latin America.”
The Prime Minister in Iraq Beril Dedeoğlu underscores the geopolitical and strategic importance of Ahmet Davutoğlu’s recent visit to Iraq.
A New Phase in Turkish-African Relations İbrahim Kalın claims that Turkey’s political and economic investments in Africa are part of an attempt to foster peace and stability on the continent.
Are Turkey-European Union Relations Incurable? According to Murat Yetkin, rising unrest in the Middle East and Turkish foreign policy blunders may be damaging Turkey’s relations with the European Union.
Syria / Kobane
Watching Kobani Cengiz Çandar writes about his experiences on the border and the faith that people have in the victory of Kobane and the defeat of ISIS.
Davutoğlu`s Critical ISIS Questions to the West Markar Esayan suggests that Turkey has been unfairly targeted with claims that it supported ISIS militants.
Ankara-KRG Ties Best Guarantee for Regional Security İlnur Çevik argues that the close relationship between the Turkish government and the government of Iraqi Kurdistan will ensure the defeat of ISIS and will help sustain the peace process.
Biden Comes to Town
Iraq is the Priority, Not Assad Yavuz Baydar argues that the United States is pouring more resources and energy into the stability of Iraq rather than the stability of Syria.
Biden and Turkish Democracy Ömer Taşpınar examines the changing nature of the United States’ relationship with Turkey since the ascension of Erdoğan to the presidency.
US Wants Turkey`s Boots on the Ground Verda Özer suggests that the recent high-profile visits of US political figures to Turkey is part of an effort to involve Turkey more directly in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
Biden`s Visit Confirms Late US-Turkey Rapprochement Kılıç Buğra Kanat claims that pragmatism and common goals in the Middle East have enabled the US and Turkey to overcome recent tensions regarding Syria and Iraq.
Economy
Budget Reflects Security-First Policies Lale Kemal argues that the increased funding for national security in Turkey reflects the state’s increasing authoritarianism.
Slowing Growth Affects Turkey`s Economic Balances Erdal Sağlam examines the pros and cons of the leveling out of the Turkish economy.
Will US-EU Trade Deal Dissolve the EU-Turkey Customs Union? Mehmet Çetingüleç believes that a free trade agreement between the EU and the US would damage Turkish exports.
The G20, a Global Showdown, and Turkey`s Struggle According to İbrahim Karagül, Turkey’s assumption of the rotating presidency of the G20 will drastically change the power dynamics between the most and least rich countries in the group.
The G20 War Games Mustafa Aydın asserts that the tensions among member states at G20 overshadowed the summit’s actual agenda.
Turkey`s Expanding G20 Agenda Sadık Ünay sees Turkey’s ascension to the presidency of the G20 is especially advantageous for Turkey’s economic position relative to other emerging powers.
The G20 and the Global Dead End Taha Özhan argues that Turkey will transform the G20 into an organization that prioritizes the economies of the Global South.
Other Pertinent Pieces
How a German Doctor Became a PKK Hero Amberin Zaman profiles Dr. Medya, a German doctor who joined the PKK over twenty years ago and who continues to treat patients—primarily women—in the Qandil mountains.
Harvard Researcher Harassed After Speaking Out Against AKP Pınar Tremblay examines the case of Emrah Altındiş as well as the responses of other expatriates to Altındiş’ experiences as a consequence of his comments to Abdullah Gül last May.
Turkish
Peace and Reconciliation Process
Çözüm sürecine milli göz Abdülkadir Selvi argues that a new ground for dialogue was re-established in the peace process.
Fırat Anlı: Karakol inşaatları bile bölgeye yatırım diye gösteriliyor In an interview with İrfan Aktan, Diyarbakır co-mayor Fırat Anlı argues that public money is channeled to the war economy.
Moro’lu Müslümanlara otonomi, Kürtlere ‘kamu düzeni’ Nuray Mert compares the peace process in the Philippines to Turkey.
"Kobane, çözüm süreci için aşı olabilir..." According to Fuat Keyman, all parties in the peace process learnt their lessons from Kobane.
Çözüm çatışmasızlık mı? Saluhan Oluç reminds us that disarmament alone cannot lead to peace and a solution.
Çözüm döneminin yeni aşaması Tarhan Erdem criticizes the vagueness and lack of predictability in the peace and reconciliation process.
‘Sekretarya, milli göz’ iyi de bu tutuklamalar neyin nesi? Veysi Sarısözen emphasizes that the AKP should stop military operations and political arrests to prove its sincerity in the peace process.
Süreci sürdürmek zorunluluğunu üreten toplumsal dinamikler Bekir Ağırdır argues that despite the weakening of the peace process, the public’s expectations for peace pressed all parties to continue negotiations and to establish a new ground for dialogue.
PKK’nın seçimi According to Mümtazer Türköne, the success of the peace process relies on the PKK’s acceptance of pluralism and co-existence.
Üçüncü göz mü dediniz? Nuriye Akman writes about the formation of a "third eye" committee in order to render the peace process transparent.
Tutuklamalar misilleme hakkını doğurmuştur Hüseyin Ali finds it paradoxical that the AKP decided to continue the peace process while increasing the arrests of Kurdish politicians and activists.
Kürtlere "hamilik" yarışı “Turkey needs the PKK not only for establishing public order but also to become a powerful party in US-Iran formula,” writes Arzu Yılmaz.
Kriz sorusu: `Çözüm` hangi sorunu çözecek? Vedat İlbeyoğlu argues that the AKP’s insistence on disarmament of the PKK enables it to stall and postpone the peace process while deceiving the public.
Davutoğlu’nun Hewlêr ziyareti Seyit Evran describes Prime Minister Davutoğlu’s Hewler visit as an attempt to ally with Kurds given Turkey’s isolation in the Middle East.
Erdoğan as President
`Büyük Adam` mı? Cengiz Çandar argues that neither President Erdoğan nor Prime Minister Davutoğlu can be called a “Big Man” because they drew a Syria Policy without an “exit strategy.”
Erdoğan `İkinci Gezi Parkı` mı planlıyor? Hakan Aksay criticizes the AKP’s attempts to revive Gezi Park protests as a strategy before the elections.
Ya olmasaydı ‘Adalet ve Kalkınma’ Sarayı? Sibel Yerdeniz compares Erdoğan’s “White Palace” to the abject poverty, hunger, issues of child labor, and workers’ deaths in Turkey.
AKP, AKP`ye karşı Ahmet İnsel argues that the AKP’s party program in 2003 is the exact opposite of its contemporary policies.
Sarayınızın ışıltısı, Anadolu’nun yoksulluğu Mehmet Kamış critically juxtaposes Erdoğan’s “White Palace” with the pervasive poverty in Anatolia.
Erdoğan ve Doğu’da macera aramak! Hasan Cemal criticizes Erdoğan’s sympathetic approach to the East Asian mode of capitalism combined with the weakening of democracy.
Güvenlik devletine doğru koşar adım Lale Kemal points out that neither the White Palace’s costs nor the government’s expenditure on security are watched and monitored.
"Yurtta stres, cihanda stres" Baskın Oran argues that Erdoğan caused so many stresses and tensions both in domestic and international politics.
Tarihin inkarı ve yalana dayalı `medeniyet savaşı` Commenting on Erdoğan’s arguments that the Americas were discovered not by Columbus but by Muslims, İhsan Çaralan argues that Erdoğan carries a “war of civilization” both in domestic and foreign politics.
Rejimin trajik zekâsı Evren Balta uses the concept of “tragic brilliance” in order to explain the success and stability of Erdoğan’s government despite corruption allegations, unlawfulness, and political crises.
Dersim Massacre / Alevi Opening
‘Kürt yok Türk var’dan dolayı da bu devletin özür borcu yok mu? Hasan Cemal reminds us that Turkey needs to apologize not only for 1938 Dersim Massacre but also for the 1915 Armenian Genocide and the ongoing denial and assimilation of Kurds.
Dersim soykırımı ve ulus devlet paradigması Ülker Sarı and Canan Baki argues that the 1938 Dersim Massacre was organized as a product of the nation-state paradigm and liberal economy-politics.
CHP özür diledi ama devlet de diledi mi? Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu questions whether or not the CHP’s apology to Alevis for the Dersim Massacre was an official apology.
CHP, yanlış (geç) zamanda, yanlış (Dersim) özür diledi Raffi A. Hermonn argues that the CHP should have apologized to Alevis not for the Dersim Massacre but for the Sivas and Maraş Massacres.
Dersim: Ulusal vicdanın yarası, siyasetin yüz karası… Oya Baydar defines the Dersim Massacre as the “wound of national conscience and shame of politics.”
Alevi açılımı According to Hüseyin Şengül, the AKP’s Alevi Opening aims at further assimilating Alevis.
Dersim’in günahı Hayko Bağdat highlights the fact that Alevis do not only want an apology, but justice and equality.
`Dersim açılımı` bir safsatadır! İhsan Çaralan criticizes the fact that the AKP uses the Dersim Massacre as a strategic tool for attacking the CHP and dividing Alevis.
Syria / Kobane
Kobani`ye bakmak, Obama`dan duymak Relaying his first-hand observations from Suruç, Cengiz Çandar argues that the US started to develop an alliance and collaboration with Kurds.
25 Kasım günü Kobanê Şengal Rojava deyip sınıra akmak Ayşe Berktay calls all women to the Turkey-Syria border to support women’s struggle in Rojava, Şengal, and Kobane.
Şengal’i kurtarmak gerekiyor Murat Karayılan, the commander of the PKK, draws attention to ISIS attacks in Şengal.
Özgür Suriye Ordusu Halep`i terk etti, lideri Türkiye`ye kaçtı Murat Yetkin analyzes the consequences of a Free Syrian Army leader’s abandonment of Aleppo.
Foreign Policy
`Öksüz Ermeni halısı` ve Türk-Amerikan ilişkileri Gönül Tol argues that Turkey is no longer a powerful actor in the US-led international fight against ISIS.
Türkiye-Afrika ilişkilerinde yeni dönem “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to argue that Africa is where the AKP was most successful in terms of its foreign policy,” writes Mehmet Özkan.
"Yeni Türkiye"ye "yeni Washington" Cengiz Çandar argues that Prime Minister Davutoğlu is overshadowed by President Erdoğan’s weakening yet still pervasive influence in Washington.
Economy
Sermaye Türkiye’den kaçıyor, işsizlik artıyor Süleyman Yaşar reports that unemployment is rising as a result of the withdrawal of capital from Turkey.
“Yeni Türkiye”nin temelinde işçi kanı var Kerem Emre Berk argues that the AKP’s “new Turkey” is built upon the “blood of informal workers.”
2015 Bütçe Tasarısı’na ait kısa notlar: Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı Bütçesi Mustafa Durmuş reports that more than 1,400 workers died in 2014 as a result of neoliberal transformation and the lack of work safety.
Türkiye ekonomisi durgunluk yaşıyor Selim Işıklar argues that Turkey is undergoing stagflation.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Ermeni aileler, 1915`te can kurtaran Türkleri anlatıyor: Anneannemi tandıra saklamışlar Aris Nalcı conveys the stories of Armenian families who survived the 1915 Genocide.
Çocuk Hakları mı dediniz? Nurcan Baysal writes about the absence of child rights for Kurdish children who grow up amidst an ongoing armed conflict and political struggle for freedom and rights.
Faşizme varan yolda kritik bir durak: Şaşırmamak Murat Sevinç warns against the internationalization of fascism.
Cezasızlık, barış ve demokrasi Murat Çelikkan criticizes the legal impunity of the armed forces and intelligence services in Turkey.
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