But where do you find relief when daily life matches the shadowy environment of noir novels and reading the newspapers in the morning routinely takes you through the dark twists and turns of shadowy assassination attempts? Turkey, these days, provides enough material to inspire an entire generation of spy novelists or Hollywood screenwriters.While it may be entertaining to read mysteries or enjoy thrillers on the big screen with a bag of popcorn, there is nothing light or pleasant about the sense of unreality that has become part of our daily lives. Many people struggle to get their mind around the revelations that emerge through the media, and yet it is safe to assume that only a fraction of what goes on gets reported.
The cleansing process launched by the government is of crucial importance for the development of democracy in this country, but for the time being many Turks feel their country is progressing in the dark through thick fog. Few people grasp the ins and outs of the Ergenekon trial and the new investigation launched after officers were arrested near Bülent Arinç’s house has added an extra layer of opacity.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s determination to challenge the status quo, by seeking to uncover illegal players in state institutions on the one hand and pushing forward new policies to address chronic problems such as the Kurdish question that have held Turkey back for decades on the other, is welcome by many citizens of this country. But others fear that the edifice of state is being undermined and they don’t know what structure will replace it. There is a power struggle at the very heart of the state institutions, but what will emerge when the dust settles is still unclear.
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) itself, while trying to do the right thing, has not always been clear and consistent about its aims. The ruling party has also at times been very selective in its approach to democracy. The prime minister’s court cases against journalists, for instance, have done little to convince his opponents that he truly embraces freedom of speech. In this polarized society, trust is in short supply. Opposition parties have fanned the flames of suspicion, instead of getting involved in the reform process and providing constructive checks and balances.
Recent developments only add to the confusing picture. While attempts are being made to address the Kurdish issue, elected mayors of the former Democratic Society Party (DTP) are shown in handcuffs. Prosecutors are digging into shadowy networks, but journalists who write about illegal plots face charges. Turkey is being pulled in many directions at once.
What is still missing is a clear framework. In the absence of a new constitution, the European Union used to provide a blueprint for Turkey’s future. Unfortunately, the accession process is no longer perceived by most people as the beacon that could guide Turkey forward. Many factors are to blame: France’s determination to strip the negotiations from their accession perspective has undoubtedly played an important role, but the government did little in recent years to keep the enthusiasm alive. Its recent announcement that it would revive the process is welcome, but it may prove a hard sell even if, for all its flaws and its double standards, the EU roadmap offers the democratic guarantees that people seek at this critical juncture and a ray of light to guide Turkey through the current fog.
