![[Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Abdullah Gul at the United Nations Headquarters, 23 September. Image via Al-Monitor.]](https://kms.jadaliyya.com/Images/357x383xo/GulUN.jpg)
[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
Democracy Package Examining previous democracy packages in Turkish history, Doğu Ergil points out the necessity of citizens` involvement in the process for a full-fledged democracy.
Turkey Has Gone Through Significant Change “Despite its ups and downs, Turkey has been moving in the right direction: toward attaining functioning democratic governance,” Lale Kemal writes.
The Two Faces of the AKP Commenting on the democracy package, expected to be announced next week, Mustafa Akyol argues that the AKP is both a liberating and an authoritarian force at the same time.
Need for Reform Orhan Oğuz Gürbüz comments on the AKP`s democratization package, and calls on the party to keep its reformist identity.
Roma Lose in Urban Development in Turkey Orhan Kemal Cengiz explores the socio-economic injustices and hardships the Roma face as a result of the massive urban transformation drive in Turkey.
Turkey, AKP Can Correct Mistakes Examining the AKP`s domestic policies, Mustafa Akyol asks liberals not to take a hostile stance against the AKP.
Democratization Pains Taha Özhan comments on the path to democratization in Turkey.
What is Turkey`s Biggest Problem? Markan Esayan`s critique of the CHP (Republican People`s Party)
Islam, Islamism and Muslimism Ahmet Abou Hussein draws attention to the conceptual differences between Islam, Islamism, and Muslimism.
Kurdish Question
Recognizing Kurdish Nationhood Nuray Mert argues that Turkey can only succeed in reaching a formula for a peaceful coexistence with Kurds by recognizing their nationhood.
Syrian Kurdish Leader: Ankara Supporting Jihadists An interview with Syrian Kurdish leader Salih Muslim, who accuses the Turkish government of facilitating the movement of jihadist groups in Syria and providing their wounded fighters with medical treatment.
Restoring the Name "Dersim": Transcending the Mentality of Assimilation Cafer Solgun analyzes the restoration of the name "Dersim," which was changed in 1935 to Tunceli as a Turkification and assimilation project.
Worshipping Strong Political Leaders “How can a peace that emerges from the two mouths of two men—and which is thus not based on any institution—be lasting?” Cengiz Aktar asks.
Alevi Question
Alevi Anger Boils Over in Ankara Examining the recent unrest among Alevis regarding the AKP`s mosque-cemevi project, Sibel Utku Bila points out that the anger in Ankara`s Alevi neighborhood suggests that Erdoğan might be too late in addressing Alevi grievances.
The Making of Turkish Alevi Islam Şahin Alpay introduces Markus Dressler`s recently published book, Writing Religion: The Making of Turkish Alevi Islam, which historicizes the legal and social discrimination in Turkey against Alevis.
Gezi Uprising
Turkish Muezzin Who Couldn`t Lie Is Exiled Yasemin Çongar investigates the case of the muezzin of a mosque in central Istanbul who lost his position after he denied Prime Minister Erdoğan`s assertions that protesters consumed alcohol inside the mosque during the Gezi Park protests.
The Liberal Divide Suat Kiniklioglu comments on the post-Gezi era in terms of new political groupings and alliances among liberals and conservatives.
Foreign Policy
Impressions From Turkey`s Syrian Frontier Cengiz Çandar`s visit to Turkey`s border with Syria provides context for the complexity of Turkey`s choices in dealing with Syria.
What Happened to Turkey in the Last Five Years? Seeking to answer this question, Murat Yetkin analyzes Turkey`s domestic and foreign policies.
What is Turkey`s Role in Syria`s Islamic Opposition? Tulin Daloğlu questions Turkey`s role in the development of al-Qaeda affiliate Islamist groups in Syria.
Has Turkish Foreign Policy Created a "Syrian Taliban"? Mete Çubukçu analyzes Turkey`s Syria policy.
Has Turkey Become The "Pakistan of the Middle East"? Kadri Gürsel argues that the jihadists—mainly the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra—could not become a dominant actor in Syria without logistical support from Turkey and easy access to Turkish territory.
Gül: No Solution on Syria By Sidelining Iran Speaking to reporters on the way to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, Turkey`s President Abdullah Gül said that a solution on Syria cannot be reached without including Iran.
From Offense to Defense in Fighting with Terror Ruşen Çakır analyzes President Abdullah Gül`s statements at the UN General Assembly about Syria and terror.
President Gül`s Warnings Should Be Heeded Semih İdiz argues that the government should pay attention to President Gül`s warnings about the radical groups fighting in Syria.
President Gül`s UN speech İhsan Yılmaz comments on President Gül`s speech at the UN General Assembly, especially about Turkey`s foreign policy and international relations.
Rouhani Offers Chance for Turkey, Too Fehim Taştekin examines the potential impacts of Rouhani`s presidency on Turkey`s foreign policy toward Iran and Syria.
Yet Another Turkey-Iran Rapprochement? Emre Uslu argues that closer relations with Iran will not help Turkey to solve problems in Syria, and to deepen its influence in the Sunni Muslim countries.
Will Obama Call Erdoğan on Chinese Missiles? Murat Yetkin comments on the questions “Will Obama call Erdoğan for Chinese missiles” and “What will happen after?”
Overhaul Analyzing Turkey`s foreign policy as oscillating between the EU and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Doğu Ergil argues that this foreign policy needs a significant overhaul.
Turkey`s EU Schizophrenia Joost Lagendjik writes on the political and public opinions prevailing in Turkey about its EU membership.
Is Turkey Giving Up on EU Membership? Barın Kayaoğlu argues that Turkey`s Middle East policies, as well as its domestic politics, would benefit from joining the European Union.
Turkey Lags Behind Europe: With or Without EU Membership Semih İdiz indicates that Turkey`s aim should be to catch up with the EU standards, instead of hoping to become an EU member.
Turkish
Birden çok Türkiye paketi beklerken Focusing on the new democratization package, Bekir Ağırdır says there exists more than one Turkey with different “good and truth” references.
İki "İki Türkiye" (II): İkincisi çatışır ve bölünebilir Resuming his analysis of “two Turkeys,” Şükrü Hanioğlu warns that “two Turkeys” produced based upon ethnos are divisible.
Demokratikleşme "paketi" Doğu Ergil criticizes the methodology of the AKP’s democratization processes, and defines them inadequate, though he is optimistic about the new package.
Paketten insan çıkar mı? Güney Aslan asks whether people will object to the package.
Kürt ve Alevi sorunlarına giremeyen bir "demokrasi paketi" havada kalır! Hasan Cemal says the democratization package will be meaningless if it does not touch upon Kurdish and Alevi questions.
Kimlik siyasetinden çatışma ve teröre Society in Turkey needs a cooling off; otherwise, it will trigger massive conflicts, warns İhsan Dağ.
Devleti değiştirmeden iktidar olmak Erol Katırcıoğlu writes on “coming to power without transforming the state.”
Demokratik muhalefet boşluğunun çaresizliği Oya Baydar draws attention to the lack of a democratic opposition in Turkey.
Hükümetin ‘paket’ sürprizi takside bağlanan çözüm Analyzing the AKP’s new democratization package, Veysi Sarısözen argues that “the settlement process” could not be split into installments.
AKP’nin ileri demokrasi anlayışı Zana Farqini severely criticizes the AKP and its “advanced democracy.”
AKP demokrasiden çok iktidarı hedeflemektedir Muzaffer Ayata says the “AKP aims at power rather than democracy.”
Kurdish Question
Müzakere süreci Following the PKK’s decision to halt the withdrawal, Adil Bayram comments on the future of “the settlement process.”
Öcalan ve Yeni Format Latif Yıldız dwells upon Öcalan’s request for a new format in the peace process.
AKP kendi nefes borusunu tıkıyor İhsan Çaralan focuses on the main reasons of the blockage in the peace process.
“Devletin Dans”ının Cazibesi Associating the Kurdish peace process with a dance, Şeyhmus Diken reminds us that in a dance, mutual accord between partners is a must.
Gezi Uprising
Güller açıyor, bülbüller ötüyor… Before the Gezi uprising, the opposition was dispersed, but now it is an annoyed alliance, Turan Alkan forewarns the AKP.
Gezi ve Z Kuşağı Commenting on the Gezi uprising, Orhan Alkaya says we need to learn from it and its Z generation.
Gezi efsaneleşirken Gülay Göktürk comments on the relationship between the Gezi protests and local elections: Yerel seçimler ve Gezi
Foreign Policy
Kazananlar kaybedenler Temel İskit sets forth the winners and losers of the Syrian chemical crisis.
Stratejik boşluk Making reference to Davutoğlu’s “Strategic Depth,” Cengiz Aktar says Turkey’s “strategic depth” has given its place to “strategic lack,” in other words, “precious loneliness.”
Stratejik Derinlikten Stratejik Saçmalıklara… Ergin Yıldızoğlu explains how “strategic depth” has transformed to “strategic tripes.”
Suriye politikası sürdürülemez, çünkü… Cengiz Çandar explains why Turkish Syrian policy is not sustainable. Moreover, he has some suggestions while the Middle East is burning: Ortadoğu `yanarken` Türkiye ne yapmalı?
New York’ta Gül’e en sık sorulan sorular Ruşen Çakır draws attention to the most asked questions to President Abdullah Gül at the UN General Assembly.
İhmale gelmeyecek büyük tehlike! Abdülhamit Bilici argues that radical Islam is a big danger, which should not be neglected, for Turkey.
Türkiye modeli için… “For a Turkish model,” Mensur Akgün writes down the requirements of a model country.
Economy
Fed’in erteleme kararına Türkiye tepkisi Vefa Tarhan analyzes Turkish reactions to the Fed’s postponement of taper.
"Piyasalar" Bayram Ederken Sanayi Ne Durumda? Following the Fed`s decision, “markets are delighted, but what about industry,” asks Erinç Yeldan.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Cemevine statü hak mı, bölücülük mü? Islamic writers debate over the rights of Alevis—especially the statue of cemevi.
İslam Düşünce Mirasının Genetiği / 1-2-3-4 Introducing “the genetics of the Islamic thought,” Reşat Cengil criticizes the legitimization of the sunnah.
Published on Jadaliyya
Does an Anti-War Stance Suffice in Syria?
Activists Submitted Report Against Olympics in Istanbul
Baris surecinde gerekli olan ciddi bir hakikat ve telafi politikasi
Baris sureclerinin sorunlari ve cozum yollari
Talk Turkey: Re-Thinking Life Since Gezi (New School University, 4-5 October)
