Discussing the politics of Turkey requires keeping a cool head at all times. I wish to share with you some of my acquaintances’ comments about current trends in Turkish society. Needless to say I do not agree with everything I saw and heard, but neither did my acquaintances, and why should they? Democracy is based on learning and listening, not on imposing one’s own views.Comments were made off the record and not intended to become tomorrow’s “talk of the town” but agreed to be anonymously featured in this article.
A very successful entrepreneur in a small village told me that he is afraid the current government is shifting the country away from tried and tested methods of how to conduct politics and that religion has become too much of an ingredient of daily life. He, however, agreed that EU accession is a positive development, including upcoming health and safety regulations.
A former artist who now runs her own business mentioned to me that more dialogue amongst civil society is required.
Friends who live in the region that I visited and with whom I enjoy a closer relationship than with most of the other people I met with last week dislike the present government but at the same time send their children to summer schools where they learn about religion and the Quran.
I spoke with many more people whilst travelling and shall go back shortly.
One minor incident occurred, too -- without giving away a name, a colleague from a competitor newspaper saw me at one of the events I attended, uttered the words, “Oh, Zaman is here,” turned around and walked away. At a press conference some hours later and standing next to her and having met her before, I wanted to shake hands, but to no avail.
I must admit when I am invited in a capacity as columnist to cover an event I do not shy away from openly disclosing why and for what purpose I am in town. As I contribute to a number of local projects and write about them from time to time in civil society or other publications, I often attend activities in a number of very small villages. Often I realize that I am the first contributing writer to either Zaman or Today’s Zaman that they have ever met in person. Once their initial surprise changes into curiosity and finally conversation, perceptions become easily changed.
People want to convey their message, and what really annoys them is that they feel neglected by the government. They may have jobs, income, comfortable houses and by now 24/7 Internet. They run state of the art businesses and eat organic food. They are, however, totally detached from what happens in far-away Ankara or, financially speaking, İstanbul. It may be a mistake by them, the government, or by both sides, but one that could so easily be remedied.
I fully understand that after decades of polarization the current Turkish government is intent on first embracing those groups of society who were neglected for too long. However, continued success at the ballot box can only work out if voters in the northwest, west and southwestern regions of Turkey become part of the democratic initiative, too. This comment is not made in the capacity of a spokesperson for any political party but from the understanding that a few more years are needed in the right direction to irreversibly establish a citizen’s democracy and prosperous economy.
In a nutshell: Citizens in Turkey’s sunshine belt send children to Quran schools, use the Internet unless censored, eat healthy organic food, speak foreign languages and like to meet “foreigners” while at the same time they criticize the current government and worry about the economy but basically favor EU integration. Confused? I am, for sure.
Newspapers can make sense out of all this by constantly going to these places and featuring the concerns and desires of the people. Social inclusion starts right at home, including in Turkey’s smaller towns and villages.
My visit last week underlined that dialogue is the way forward and that dialogue is possible.
