[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
2014: Year in Review
After Turkey`s Horrible Year (1) - (2) Mustafa Akyol claims that the rift between the Gülen movement and the AKP defined 2014 and will continue to be a powerful force in 2015.
Summary of 2014: !Redrum Emre Deliveli describes the minor economic crises that plagued the Central Bank in 2014 and asserts that similar crises will occur in 2015.
Forecasting Economic Growth for 2015 Seyfettin Gürsel traces the GDP growth rate over the course of 2014 to predict that growth will remain low in the new year.
A Year that Will Be Crucial for Turkey İlnur Çevik argues that the Turkish population should mandate for a transformation of the political system “to facilitate a more modern executive system that borders on a presidential system.”
Tough Year Ahead for Turkey Semih İdiz claims that the many tensions plaguing Turkish politics will only grow more urgent in 2015.
Revisiting Past Statistics Always Helps Pelin Cengiz examines Turkey’s poor rankings in a number of international rights and freedoms indexes from the year 2014.
2014 Short Story of Turkey A short video that contains footage from the year’s many protests.
“Parallel Structure” Debates
Gülen`s Shadow Hangs over Erdoğan Semih İdiz argues that the lengthy legal processes, both at home and internationally, at play in Erdoğan’s efforts to arrest Gülen, mean that the tensions with the Gülen movement will not end anytime soon.
Who Is Benefiting from the Erdoğan-Gülen Split? Ömer Şahin claims that the rift between the AKP and the Gülen movement has opened the door to other religious groups and helped give votes to the AKP.
The US Must Help "Disarm" the Gülen Movement Yahya Bostan asserts that the US has a role in facilitating more transparency in the Gülen movement by extraditing Gülen back to Turkey.
Erdoğan`s Abstract Enemies: Parallel Organization and Superior Mind According to Mümtazer Türköne, the attacks on the Gülenist press show that President Erdoğan will continue to manufacture enemies in order to consolidate power.
How to Continue the "Coup de Palais" Attempt Tulu Gümüştekin claims that the parallel structure is composed not only of domestic enemies but also foreign ones.
Turkish-Style Parallel Government Orhan Oğuz Gürbüz argues that the semblance of a balance of power between Erdoğan and Davutoğlu, in addition to the fable of the parallel structure, have irreversibly damaged prospects for democracy in Turkey.
The Four Ex-Ministers Should Be Tried, but We Should Wait for an Impartial Chief Judge at the Top Court İlnur Çevik claims that the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Haşim Kılıç, should not be allowed to conduct the trial of the ex-ministers because of his public criticisms of the AKP government.
AKP / Erdoğan / Authoritarianism
Erdoğan Reminds Davutoğlu of His Powers Murat Yetkin examines how Erdoğan’s unprecedented use of presidential powers is building tensions between him and Davutoğlu.
Respect Cannot Be Earned with a Stick Semih İdiz argues that the AKP’s aggression against its detractors is delegitimizing the government at home and the country’s image abroad.
AKP: From Post-Islamist Back to Soft-Islamist? Joost Lagendijk examines the transformations of the AKP since 2011, when it became more openly Islamist.
Turkey, Caliphate, and Erdoğan Abdullah Bozkurt claims that Erdoğan’s approach to other Islamic countries suggests that he wants to resurrect the caliphate and become caliph.
Failure of Erdoğan`s Goebbelsian Propaganda Machine in 2014 According to İhsan Yılmaz, the international community is able to see the total corruption of the AKP through the propaganda of democracy.
The Difference between Erdoğan and Putin Etyen Mahçupyan argues that the crucial difference between Erdoğan and Putin, in spite of all their similarities, is that Putin represents the status quo while Erdoğan represents an end to the status quo.
In between the Pro- and Anti-Erdoğan… Ali Bayramoğlu suggests that the polarization of Turkish politics has foreclosed prospects for democratic debate and resolution of Turkey’s problems.
Why "Thief" Is not Just a Five-Letter Word Burak Bekdil examines cases in which calling Erdoğan and other AKP officials "thieves" has led to violence and legal action.
Cizre Attacks & Peace and Reconciliation Process
Will the PKK and the Turkish State Carry on Talking or Fighting? (1) - (2) Murat Yetkin meditates on the potential beginning of official negotiations in the peace process, and whether they will actually be able to end the thirty-year armed conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state.
The "Kurdish Peace Process" and Bad Omens According to Nuray Mert, because the Turkish state’s declarations about the peace process often contradict the HDP’s, and both groups engage in double talk to appease their bases, the peace process is nothing more than a “ticking time bomb.”
Are Cizre Clashes Heralding an Operation? Emre Uslu suggests that the government is fomenting conflict in Cizre in order to attract the votes of nationalists disappointed with the Gülen controversies and the corruption investigation.
Why Are the PKK and Hezbollah in Conflict? Orhan Kemal Cengiz analyzes the violence in Cizre and wonders whether it means that the "deep state" is making a resurgence.
Turkey`s Internal Kurdish Tensions Flare Mustafa Akyol speculates that the conflict in Cizre belies an emergent tension between Kurdish secular-nationalists and Kurdish Islamists.
The Process and Violence Helix Akıf Emre argues that the PKK is using violence in order to monopolize control over Kurdish society, even though it is also engaged in the peace talks.
Foreign Policy
Turkey and Iraq Turn a New Page İbrahim Kalın argues that the political tensions and threats facing both Turkey and Iraq have helped build a closer relationship between the two countries.
This Will Be a Difficult New Year Emre Gönen suggests that Turkish diplomacy bears an enormous responsibility in 2015 for resolving tensions with Greece regarding Cyprus, as well as the Kurdish question and the unrest and instability in the Middle East.
Obama`s Deafening Silence on Human Rights in Turkey Ali H. Aslan criticizes the US government’s ambivalent approach to human rights in Turkey.
Meshaal`s Visit to Turkey Catches Media Off Guard Pınar Tremblay examines the geopolitical and diplomatic consequences of the recent unannounced visit to Turkey by Hamas’ political bureau chief, Khaled Meshaal.
Abadi`s Visit to Turkey Yaşar Yakış analyzes the bilateral discussions concerning security, energy, economy, and water resources between Turkey and Iraq during Haider al-Abadi’s recent visit to Turkey.
Russian Crisis Worries Turkish Businesses Semih İdiz examines the potential fallout from the Russian crisis in the wake of Turkey and Russia’s recent energy dealings and economic agreements.
New Regional Balance Enters New Year Verda Özer explores how shifting relationships among countries in the Middle East, as well as with Greece and Cyprus, have impacted Turkey’s efforts to enact diplomatic dominance in the region.
Economy
Turkish Financial Markets Looking Forward to a Prosperous 2015 Taha Meli Arvas suggests that despite the slow rate of growth in 2014, the Turkish economy will expand greatly in 2015 because of falling oil prices and the impending resolution of geopolitical problems like Syria.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Turkey Registers Syrian Refugees Tülay Çetingüleç suggests that the government’s collection of biometric information of over 1.4 million refugees will put them on the path to Turkish citizenship.
Entering 1915 Cengiz Aktar claims that the one hundredth anniversary of the Armenian genocide this year will nonetheless pass without a proper reconciliation with the legacy of violence or a consensus on whether it can even be called a genocide.
Turkish
2014: Year in Review
2015 ve "siyasi İslam"in istikbali (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Cengiz Çandar reviews 2014 and makes predictions about 2015 with a focus on the issues of foreign relations, domestic politics, and political Islam in Turkey.
Uğurlar olsun! Fehim Taştekin emphasizes that Turkey failed in foreign policy in 2014.
2015; sorunların üzerine gidilirse iyi geçer According to Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, the Erdoğan-Gülen struggle and the threat of ISIS will continue in 2015.
Değişen ne oldu? “For me, one of the most striking results of 2014 is the release of the state’s counterguerrilla forces almost as heroes as a consequence of the struggle between the AKP and the Gülen community,” writes Eren Keskin.
2015: Kafamda bir tuhaflık! “Freedoms will worsen in 2015. So will the rule of law. Because Tayyip Erdoğan will continue to try to be the `one man,` concentrating all powers on him,” writes Hasan Cemal.
2015’e merhaba… Ali Bayramoğlu points out that the hundredth anniversary of 1915 Armenian Genocide will leave its mark on domestic and foreign policies of Turkey 2015.
2014’ün siyasi bakiyesi Hatem Ete argues that 2014’s most important political dynamic was the presidential election, in which Erdoğan became the first president elected by the public.
2014’ten hafızamıza kazınanlar! Nurcan Baysal highlights that 2014 was a year of cruelty shaped by the death of 301 mine workers in Soma, the killings of women and LGBTs, the plight of refugees, the AKP’s oppression of minority rights, and the killings of dozens civilians by the police brutality.
2014: Kafası iyice karışan Türkiye According to Ahmet İnsel, Turkey presented a view of autocracy and nepotism in 2014.
2015 icin tahminler Fatih Özatay draws a pessimistic picture for Turkey’s economy in 2015.
2015’de Türkiye ekonomisi nasıl olacak? Erdal Tanaş Karagöl argues that as opposed to negative expectations, Turkey’s economy will grow in 2015.
Yeni yıl, yeni umutlar ve gerçek Ender İmrek argues that 2015 offers the chance of struggling for workers` rights and solving the Kurdish question and the Alevi question.
“Parallel Structure” Debates
Cemaatle mücadele: Virajlar… (1)-(2)-(3) Ali Bayramoğlu review the AKP government’s struggle with the Gülen community.
2014’ün en kullanışlı jokeri: Paralel yapı Oya Baydar argues that the AKP has used “the parallel structure” as an effective joker in order to whitewash the allegations against the AKP government.
Pek ala anlıyoruz According to Suat Kınıklıoğlu, the struggle between the AKP and the Gülen community in fact blankets a deeper problem of democracy.
Erdoğan ile köprüler ne zaman, niçin atıldı? (1)-(2) Markar Esayan reviews “the short history of the breaking off the relation between Erdoğan and those who called themselves liberal/leftists.”
Prof. İsmail Kara ile Gülen cemaati-AKP hükümeti savaşı üzerine söyleşi-tam metin Ruşen Çakır’s interview with İsmail Kara about the struggle between the AKP government and the Gülen community.
AKP / Erdoğan / Authoritarianism
Otoriterleşme ve büyük resmi görmek! Umut Özkırımlı draws attention to the ever growing authoritarian tendencies in the AKP government.
Devleti kim yönetecek? “Erdoğan does not govern the country, he cannot govern it; yet he also prevents Davutoğlu from governing it,” writes Mümtaz’er Türköne.
Her an hain olabilirsiniz! Abdülhamit Bilici points out that anyone who criticizes Erdoğan or the AKP government could be accused of being a traitor.
Cumhurbaşkanına hakaret ve 299 zamanı “In this country insulting the president is a crime and you could be arrested. Don’t be surprised, because in this country even children are arrested,” writes Fikret İlkiz.
"Hakaret-amiz beyanat" (hakaret içeren demeçler) Altan Öymen questions what can be done against Erdoğan’s insulting everyone who criticizes him and accusing them of being traitors.
Felaket senaryosu! Hasan Cemal points out that Erdoğan’s plausibility and credibility is at almost zero in the West.
AKP`nin başarısızlığından neden mutsuzum? Sevgi Akarçeşme argues that she, as a citizen of Turkey, is unhappy with the AKP’s failure because its authoritarianism reinforced prejudices against Islam.
Cizre Attacks & Peace and Reconciliation Process
Provokatör kim, kim bulacak? İhsan Çaralan reports that the radical Islamist party, Hüda-Par, attacked Kurdish people in Cizre, and as a result three people died and five people were injured.
Dün Roboski bugün Cizre Beze Hozat argues that the AKP tries to use Hüda-Par as a counter guerrilla force against the Kurdish Freedom Movement.
Ada, Meclis, Ova, Kandil dilleri ve bir de ‘medyanın’ dili Veysi Sarisözen draws attention to the fact that Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç went to the Region and met with Hüda-Par members before Hüda-Par’s attack on the Kurdish people.
AKP provokasyonu “The Cizre events are neither a struggle between two parties nor a provocation of unknown forces. The Cizre events are caused by the state’s and the AKP government’s provoking Hüda-Par to attack Kurdish youth,” writes Hüseyin Ali.
AKP, Hüda-Par’la nereye? Muzaffer Ayata points out that both Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç and the pro-government media represented Hüda-Par as victims while blaming the Kurdish movement of being the source of conflict.
Yeni Kürt sorunu Öney Sezin argues that the government continues to approach the Kurdish question with a “security-centered” perspective, and that this approach itself has created the problem of security.
Karayılan: AKP, Kürtlere karşı komplocu Murat Karayılan, the top military commander of the PKK, argues that Hüda-Par’s Cizre attacks are in fact victims of the AKP’s conspiracy against Kurds.
Klişenin ötesi hakikatin berisinde Hizbullah Adnan Çelik analyzes the Hüda-Par attacks in Cizre by showing the continuities between today’s Huda-Par and the 1990s’ state-supported counterguerrilla force, Hezbollah.
Anahtar Kürtlerin elinde Şahin Alpay accuses the Kurdish movement of not reacting enough against the AKP government’s authoritarianism for the sake of the peace process.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Velev ki, fahişe… Murat Güvenç writes about the state’s attacks on sex workers and criticizes “Turkish-style conservatism.”
1915’e girerken Cengiz Aktar comments on the hundredth anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
90`ların hak mücadeleleri (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Bianet’s series of the 1990’s rights struggles in Turkey.
Yoksulların vatandaşlığı Ayşe Buğra analyzes the “citizenship of the poor.”
Published on Jadaliyya
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