This internal transformation in the Middle East, the success of our country in the field of economy, the progress that we have made towards democratization, the synthesis between universal values and Islam, and an independent, multidimensional, active foreign policy turn Turkey into a model country in the eyes of the people. Leaving aside legitimate discussions as to whether such a country could be a model and “which Turkey” should be taken as a model, there is a reality here. People from Tunisia to Egypt, from Syria and Libya, see Turkey as a source of inspiration and as a model. But those who are used to identifying what is best and what is worst for the people in Turkey are now having problems with this choice about Turkey has a model that the Arabs have made. As they refer to Turkey as a model, some white, secularist elites within us are bothered; of course these circles include the Jacobins in France and their white clients in the Middle East as well.
Questions such as “How could a Turkey that locks journalists in prison be a model for the Middle East?” “How could a country that introduces Internet censorship be a model?” and “How could a country where religious people have seized every institution be a model?” are being underlined and highlighted on a daily basis in some influential papers and on Internet sites and portals as well. Maybe people prone to believe such propaganda believe these publications, but the vast majority properly distinguishes reality from such blatant propaganda.
A recent discussion in “The Doha Debates,” an influential show aired by the BBC, considered whether Turkey would become a model for the Middle East. You would not have to do much to see how unrealistic are the remarks by Ece Temelkuran, a journalist who argues based on extremely biased comments and analyses published in the press, that Turkey cannot be a model. It would be enough to take a look at the most recent public survey conducted by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) on how Turkey is perceived in the Middle East.
Even though Ece Temelkuran frequently stated on the program that the Middle East has its own problems and, for this reason, cannot use Turkey as a model, the research by TESEV performed in 16 countries shows that Turkey is the country that most Arab people have positive sentiments about (78 percent of participants). Under this same category, Egypt received the support of 62 percent of respondents, France 46 percent and the US 33 percent. With the exception of Syria, and despite setbacks in recent times, the positive image of Turkey in the Middle East has become even more widespread. In the first survey done by TESEV, conducted in 2009, 75 percent of respondents held positive views vis-à-vis Turkey. Even though the Jacobins in the world and in our country do not want to see it, 61 percent of Middle Eastern people see Turkey as a model.
Some in Turkey and across the region tend to attribute the rising attention paid to Turkey in the Middle East to Turkey’s attitude towards Israel over the occupation of Gaza. Of course, the role of the March 1 motion (a motion that was rejected by Parliament in 2003 that would have allowed US troops to open a northern front staged out of Turkey) and the one-minute showdown (Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ‘one minute’ remark to Israeli President Shimon Peres during a session on Gaza at the World Economic Forum [WEF] in Davos in 2009) were great in this, but it should not be exaggerated. Turkey’s socio-economic transformation, economic performance, struggle against corruption and moves towards democratization are bold steps that attract increased popular attention. This attention was out there at a time when relations with Israel were smooth. Responses to questions as to why people see Turkey as a model confirm this: It has a democratic regime (32 percent), it has a successful economy (25 percent) and it has a Muslim identity (23 percent).
At a time where Turkey enjoys increased attention, it is also interesting to note the changing views of people regarding Iran, particularly after its decision to side with the brutal regime in Syria. Fourteen percent of people in the region view Iran as a threat; this is close to those who view the US as a threat (16 percent). In the meantime, the findings that suggest there should be a distinction between the people and the state policies of Iran are also interesting; 71 percent of the Iranian people hold positive views of Turkey. The recent deterioration in the political relations has partly affected this. The rate of those who held positive views of Turkey in 2009 was 85 percent. The greatest decline in the rate of people who hold positive views of Turkey is observed in Syria. Ninety-three percent of the people held positive views in 2009, whereas now this figure has dropped to 44 percent.
The positive image of Turkey in the region is not demonstrated by opinions alone; it is also visible in concrete, practical choices as well. Turkey is the most preferred tourist destination among people from Middle Eastern countries. Turkey is the second-favored tourist destination among people outside the Middle East after France. Seventy-four percent of people in the Middle East have watched a Turkish TV series and 71 percent of respondents have used Turkish goods or commodities.
These are things that would make the white elites sad, but they are the reality. As some ideas based on lies, deception and ideological bigotry are becoming outdated, a new world based on new approaches and understandings is emerging.
