[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
Rift Between President Erdoğan and the Government
Pushing Government to Limits, Erdoğan`s Will Being Tested Yavuz Baydar suggests that the rift emerging between Erdoğan and Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç is fundamentally an issue of who has the ability to dictate policy.
Davutoğlu Finally Supports Erdoğan’s Presidency Model Murat Yetkin comments upon the dynamics behind Prime Minister Davutoğlu’s recent deferential stance regarding Erdoğan’s presidential ambitions.
What Is Erdogan Trying to Do? (1) - (2) Semih İdiz speculates that Erdoğan may be stoking the fallout with Arinç over the Kurdish peace process in order to draw nationalist and conservative votes to the AKP.
Unrest Within the AKP Amanda Paul examines how the AKP elites` divergent responses to Öcalan`s statement have generated significant friction within the party, damaging its chances of maintaining a parliamentary majority.
The Knives Are Out According to Joost Lagendijk, the AKP is "still by far the best-oiled election machine" in spite of the emergent tensions among members of the party.
Erdoğan Grows More Radical Kadri Gürsel examines how Erdoğan`s Islamist-nationalist rhetoric has evolved and radicalized since the 2011 general election.
Crisis Analysis… Ali Bayramoğlu explores how the current crisis within the AKP emerged and wonders whether it will have long-term repercussions for the party`s dominance.
The Spell Is Being Reversed Abdülkadir Selvi suggests that the divisions between Erdoğan and the rest of the AKP in the wake of Öcalan`s Newroz message have disenchanted the Turkish public from the party`s consistency since its election in 2001.
AKP`s Internal Tensions Finally Erupt Mustafa Akyol examines the cognitive dissonance regarding the current strife within the AKP, claiming that Erdoğan`s bombast regarding the Kurdish issue is merely an election strategy.
Kurdish Politics and the Peace Process
You Still Want to Believe Erdoğan? Cafer Solgun observes that Erdoğan has a long history of making contradictory statements regarding the existence of a Kurdish problem in Turkey.
Big Love in Turkey Pınar Tremblay profiles a number of polygamous marriages in order to explore the controversy surrounding the HDP`s approval of candidacy applications from individuals engaged in polygamous marriage.
Why Does the PKK Hesitate? According to Markar Esayan, the PKK`s reticence to suspend its activities is unfounded because "the denial and assimilation policies targeting Kurds are officially over."
Permanent Period of Peace Describing the violent suppression of Kurdish language and cultural activity in the early 2000s, Nagehan Alçı claims that Öcalan`s Newroz statement this year has ushered in a brand new political era.
Öcalan`s Invitation Etyen Mahçupyan praises Öcalan`s Newroz statement as a historic landmark in the peace and reconciliation process, and suggests that the next step will be for the HDP to help the government draft a new Constitution.
Did Nevruz Meet Expectations? Osman Can argues that "building a new constitutional order is essential" to preserving the successful transformations of the Kurdish movement as well as the Turkish public.
On the Road with the Mules of Roboski Frederike Geerdink describes her travels near Roboski as the state cracks down on smuggling across the Iraqi border.
‘Marginal Atheists’ Fighting Turkey’s Kurdish Peace Process Özgür Korkmaz examines how Erdoğan is using the discourse of Islam and brotherhood to discourage the Kurdish electorate from voting for the "secular atheist" HDP.
The Reconciliation Process and Erdoğan`s Intervention Yahya Bostan claims that Erdoğan`s recently statements regarding the Kurdish peace process were an effort to show that the negotiations are under the control of the state, not the HDP.
The State of the Reconciliation Process Taha Özhan suggests that the Kurdish peace process has followed a predictable trajectory since 2011 and that all parties stand to gain from the process in the aftermath of Öcalan`s recent Newroz message.
Erdoğan’s Message: Presidential System or No Deal According to Nuray Mert, the controversy surrounding Erdoğan`s statements regarding the Kurdish problem was not an effort to consolidate nationalist votes, but rather to cast the presidential system as the main issue of the election.
June Election
HDP`s Paradox and the Election Threshold Mahmut Övür claims that the peace process will increase the AKP`s share of votes in the Kurdish region, which may endanger the HDP`s chances of surpassing the election threshold.
AK Party Foibles Dangerous on Eve of Polls İlnur Çevik criticizes the AKP government for its recent controversies and calls upon Erdoğan and Davutoğlu to work together in order to ensure that the party can still usher in a "brand new Turkey."
Looking at Turkey`s Most Interesting Election Markar Esayan acknowledges the inroads made by the HDP for the upcoming election but asserts that the electorate will hold them accountable for the violent unrest of 6-8 October 2014.
Foreign Policy
Erdoğan’s Delicate Balancing Act in Kiev Semih İdiz examines how the strengthening relationship between the Turkish and Russian governments impinged upon Erdoğan`s recent economically-motivated visit to Ukraine.
PM Barzani: Shiite Militias Should Be Regulated Amberin Zaman interviews Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, about the ongoing struggle against Daesh as well as the KRG`s diplomatic relations, the oil trade, and the prospects of independence.
Is Turkey Doing All It Can to Secure Its Border? Following news that foreign doctors entered Syria through Turkey`s borders in order to treat wounded ISIS fighters, Fehim Taştekin examines the Turkish government`s and the military`s indifference regarding illegal border crossing.
Are Turkey`s Young IS Recruits Now a Domestic Threat? Metin Gürcan writes about the rise in the number of young people leaving Turkey to join ISIS, along with the government`s quietude on the matter.
Turkey: Hesitant in Fighting ISIL, Decisive in Fighting Houthis Serkan Demirtaş analyzes the different geopolitical and sectarian reasons behind the Turkish government`s contradictory approach to ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq versus the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Economy
Consumer Confidence in Freefall Seyfettin Gürsel speculates that the increase in personal and household debt over the past decade has damaged consumer confidence in Turkey`s economic growth.
The Elections in June Will Designate the New Economy According to Erdal Tanas Karagöl, the continued economic growth of developing countries like Turkey while developed countries have faced economic stagnation is a sign that the post-election New Turkey will become a leading global economy.
The Economic Impact of a Presidential System Sadık Ünay argues that the value of the presidential system envisioned by Erdoğan lies in the political and economic stability and confidence that such a system supports.
Turkey’s Erratic Genocide Jurisprudence Burak Bekdil explores the economic dimensions and forces that play into the Turkish government`s diplomatic approach to the issue of recognizing the Armenian genocide.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Turkey: Draconian Reforms Give Police Wide-Ranging Powers to Repress Dissent Amnesty International reports on the domestic security package and the ways in which it authorizes the police to use excessive force against protestors and opposition movements.
One Woman`s Journey from Prisoner to Mayor Amberin Zaman interviews Gültan Kışanak about her entrance to political life and her experiences in the infamous Diyarbakır prison.
Gallipoli Centenary Marks Another Snub for Turkish Minorities Sibel Hürtaş criticizes the Defense Ministry for purging the names of non-Muslim soldiers who died in the Battle of Gallipoli from the list of the battle`s casualties.
Are Turkey`s Rums Coming back? Ariana Ferentinou discusses a number of causes, such as economic opportunity, that may be compelling the Rums who left Turkey for Greece in the mid-twentieth century to return to Turkey.
When ‘Neo-Ottomanism’ Helps Mustafa Akyol praises the neo-Ottoman rhetoric of multiculturalism underpinning the recent reconstruction of a synagogue in Edirne.
Turkish
Rift between President Erdoğan and the Government
Yeni kamplaşma bildik eski formülle mi olacak? Ümit Kıvanç argues that the recent political polarization among the AKP may take a form in which the government stands in opposition to the new alliance between President Erdoğan and the Turkish military.
Ankara`da kimin borusu ötüyor? İşte bütün mesele bu (1)-(2) According to Murat Yetkin, the disputes between President Erdoğan and Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç reveal a significant authority problem within the government.
Arınç-Gökçek kavgasının gizlediği asıl nokta Ezgi Başaran emphasizes how the Deputy Prime Minister Arınç confessed that the Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Melih Gökçek, “sold out each and every parcel of land” in Ankara.
`Büyü bozuluyor`, çünkü, seçim aritmetiği, `başkanlık sistemi zor` diyor Fuat Keyman suggests that the AKP is losing its charm on its electorate due to the recent rift between Erdoğan and the government, and this rift lowers the AKP’s chances in the next elections.
Testi çatladı, su tutmaz! (1)-(2) Hasan Cemal believes that the ties between Erdoğan and the government cannot be repaired again.
Bülent Arınç`ın açıklamaları ne anlama geliyor, bu kriz niye? According to Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, the main reason for the recent rift between Erdoğan and Arınç is Erdoğan’s desire to control and interfere in the government.
Kurdish Politics and the Peace Process
Barzani Amberin Zaman’a konuştu: ‘Fidan çok önemli’ In an interview with Amberin Zaman, Neçirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan, argued that Hakan Fidan, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), played an important role in Turkey’s peace process.
Ordu, siyasetin alanına giriyor Commenting on the military’s recent announcement that “they do not recognize Öcalan, the head of the terrorists, as an interlocutor in the peace process,” Oral Çalışkan argues that the military interferes in the realm of politics.
Genelkurmay’ın kaç milletvekiline ihtiyacı var? Levent Gültekin criticizes the military’s approach towards the peace process.
Tayyip Erdoğan`ı anlamak mümkün mü? Ahmet İnsel problematizes Erdoğan’s unpredictability during the course of the peace process.
Korkulan provokasyon ‘Sürecin Mimarı’ndan geldi Oya Baydar draws attention to the new alliance between President Erdoğan and the Military General Staff and argues how they put the peace process in jeopardy.
PKK kongresinin tarihini hükümetin adımları belirleyecek According to Ruşen Çakır, the main reason behind any delay or failure in the peace process is the multiplicity of different voices and opinions in the government.
Devlet krizi ve Çözüm Süreci`ne muhtemel yansımaları Ruşen Çakır analyzes how the recent struggle between Erdoğan and the government may affect the peace process.
Nevruz`daki MHP Kurultayı`nın odağı: Çözüm Süreci Kürşad Zorlu reports that the main agenda in the Congress Meeting of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) was the peace process, which was seen by MHP as a “separatist threat” to national unity and security.
Çözüm Süreci`nde somut adımlar 7 Haziran sonrasına kaldı Ümit Fırat suggests that the more concrete steps in the peace process can only be taken after June elections.
AK Parti-HDP rekabeti, Çözüm Süreci`nin önüne geçebilir According to Fuat Keyman, the competition between the AKP and the HDP for the next elections may overshadow the peace process.
Erdoğan’ın meşruiyet korkusu! Commenting on Erdoğan’s unexpected “There is no Kurdish question” statement, Füsun Erdoğan argues that Erdoğan is afraid of losing his legitimacy.
Buzluktaki çözüm süreci… Cengiz Çandar suggests that the peace process will be suspended until after the June election.
Barış süreci Erdoğan ve Öcalan’ın gücüne bağlı Frederike Geerdink argues that the fate of the peace process is contingent upon Erdoğan’s and Öcalan’s power and authority.
Saray – hükümet kavgası kime yarıyor Amberin Zaman argues that Erdoğan may be harming the Kurdish peace process in order to draw nationalist and conservative votes to the AKP.
June Election
Seçimler, anketler ve ittifaklar Emre Uslu writes about the opinion polls before the June election.
CHP`den zekice hamleler According to Murat Yetkin, the CHP took a smart step by nominating Kemal Dervis, the former Minister of State for Economic Affairs.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Alevilikte kadınlar var, peki ya Alevilerde? (1)-(2) Nil Mutluer writes about gender relations and the status of women in Alevi communities.
15 soruda iç güvenlik paketi ne getiriyor? Lawyer Nalan Erkem explains the changes that come with the Domestic Security Bill in fifteen questions.
Kürdün katırı Ümit Kıvanç reports that the Turkish military slaughtered mules at Roboski, arguing that they are used in smuggling across the borders.
BelgeleriNiz belgeleriMizdir Aris Nalcı criticizes the fact that President Erdoğan asked the Armenian community “how many documents they have” to prove the Armenian Genocide.
Nevin Yıldırım erkek adaletinin asla kabullenemeyeceği bir günah işledi Hürrem Sönmez argues that the case of Nevin Yıldırım, who killed her rapist and was sentenced to life in prison, reveals the patriarchal nature of the judicial system.
Published on Jadaliyya
Kurdish Alevi Music and Migration: An Interview with Ozan Aksoy
In Memory of Ozgecan Aslan: Sexual Violence and the Juridical System in Turkey
Becoming a `Media Intellectual`: The Platitudes and Partisanships of Etyen Mahçupyan
Imperial Consequences of Things: An Interview with Alan Mikhail
Bio-Istanbul: A Speculative, Segregationist, and Sustainable Urbanism