2023 Turkey vision: Dreams and realities (2)
by
MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ*

 Who can think of us as individuals and a country better than ourselves? Therefore, everyone should take the initiative about his/her future, starting today without further delay. Only those who have great dreams and imaginations can undersign great successful projects. Without an overarching and unifying grand vision, the chances of fragmentary or patchwork reform packages coming into life are rather slim. The four widely shared sine qua non priorities for Turkey on its march toward 2023 include:

Building new political architecture, good governance and domestic peace: The existing political system is largely inadequate, outdated and ineffective in meeting the new challenges of the 21st century. The foremost priority is the transition to a “democracy capable of effectively governing,” with full respect for the rights of its citizens, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and gender, be it in a presidential, semi-presidential or reinforced parliamentary system, but keeping checks and balances in place. The new political system should open the country to competition, innovation, dynamism, accountability, transparency and, thus, greater democracy. Corporate governance should also be strengthened and companies that cannot keep up with the restructuring process will need to surrender their positions to those who can. Turkey must also achieve lasting reconciliation by encouraging diversity and regional competitiveness on the way to achieving a grassroots democracy.

Investing in human capacity development, technology and sustainable development: In the future, as in the present, a country’s most valuable asset will be the quality of its people. Brainpower and imagination, invention and the organization of new technologies are the strategic ingredients in the 21st century. Better education, health, social security and employment will help propel Turkey to the top ranks of the world competitiveness league. An education system that prepares the ground for an inquiring mind, which encourages production rather than consumption, which calls for sharing and cultural enlightenment and which teaches respect for common values is an absolute necessity. The principle of “continuous learning” will maintain existing skill levels and develop new ones.

We must also adopt policies that will reduce peoples’ uncertainty over retirement and health problems. Furthermore, development must be carried out in a sustainable way, from the future generations’ ecological perspective. Ensuring adequate and uninterrupted energy supplies must be placed among the country’s priority objectives given the high degree of dependence in this area.

Enhancing international competitiveness: At the macro level, competitiveness policies should consist of driving the economy to operate on the international efficiency frontier by promoting liberalization and market economy mechanisms that guarantee efficient resource allocation. The package of the reforms would include, among others, the creation of a competitive environment, trade liberalization, privatization and divesture, private sector development, a flexible exchange rate regime, sound monetary and fiscal policies, infrastructure management, institutional liberalization, financial sector management and a prudent regulatory framework. An enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector and attracting and making effective use of international investment.

Turkey will enhance its global competitiveness by capitalizing its considerable human, economic, political and geographic assets. Its future role in the global economy depends very much on its ability to further integrate with the competitive international markets through the attraction of “quality” foreign direct investment (FDI), increased exports over imports, deployment of advanced technology, promotion of Turkish brands and trademarks and strategically targeted investment abroad. Turkey has a unique chance to position itself as a nerve center and a switching node for staging regional and international business operations. Its competitive assets will be an efficient information infrastructure and a workforce equipped with the skills and expertise to operate, manage and get the most out of the infrastructure.

“Fine tuning” foreign and security relations: Achieving domestic stability, investing in human capital and enhancing international competitiveness will further consolidate Turkey’s position in world geopolitics. In view of EU membership and beyond, and in order to complete the process of domestic political and economic reforms, we need to build a belt of peace and stability in our neighborhood. This is already happening thanks to the wisely designed “zero problems with neighbors” approach. Constructive cooperation and a culture of dialogue must be stressed rather than chauvinistic and challenging attitudes in foreign and security policies. This makes it essential for us to develop a new cooperative mentality which places the rebuilding of trust with our neighbors at the forefront and to carry out a long overdue “fine tuning” as dictated by the post-Cold War period -- something that has not been fully reflected yet in Turkey’s existing mindset.

More energy should be spent on the primacy of building interdependencies on an equal footing in the economy, security, culture, human rights and people-to-people relations. The overriding goal should not be creating one of the world’s “largest” and “strongest” economies and “most modern” militaries. What really matters is to be able to create one of the world’s “happiest” and most “prosperous” nations. “Regional power” status also obliges Turkey to recast its foreign affairs, foreign economic relations, defense organizations and human resources in light of the new requirements and changes. Furthermore, at a time when economic and commercial interests occupy a central position in diplomacy Ankara should forge a global culture as a trading and investing nation.

Although the mission and vision are bipartisan, the government is required to play a leading role in the process of identifying the priorities, developing them into policies and effectively implementing and monitoring the progress. The success of this process, in which the country’s “shareholders” should be duly taken on board, could open a new credit line to the government in the next elections. Therefore, the prime minister is well advised to appoint a powerful, respected, high-caliber executive reporting directly to him and the Cabinet to facilitate and guide the Turkey 2023 vision process. The Cabinet can also be convened at least three times a year to discuss priority actions, make decisions and monitor implementation.

Furthermore, the State Planning Organization (DPT) could be reorganized as a dynamic and flexible “State Strategy Development Center.” The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) could well serve as the national focus for the 2023 technology foresight. The regional development project, launched by the Aegean Foundation for Economic Development (EGEV) for the Aegean region, could be replicated in other regions of Turkey, with support from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Commission and the World Bank. Parliament should consider establishing a special commission to provide the legislative umbrella for 2023 vision-related legislation and forge a bipartisan national consensus on the priorities of the Turkey 2023 vision and their effective implementation. The private sector, civil society partners and universities should have their own vision task forces.

Forum İstanbul, a civil society initiative flagging the “Turkey 2023 vision” through its annual conferences, should continue its function as an umbrella platform for informed dialogue, brainstorming, an exchange of information and ideas on future projects/initiatives and consensus-building among key stakeholders. Despite some shortcomings, Forum İstanbul fills a vacuum in disseminating the main pillars of the much needed futuristic vision to a wider audience, increasing awareness and the support base for the vision, unearthing the common denominators of society and generating novel information, analysis and proposals that open horizons.

The fact that many suggestions and criticism come every year on how best to organize the forum is the most healthy indicator of its being recognized and looked up to by all quarters, including the media. Expectations are getting higher for fulfilling this mission more successfully than before and thus raising the bar even higher.

In order to make it an all-embracing process, it is essential to avoid the impression that the forum represents only an elite group of top-down reformists. The following six groups constitute the major “shareholders” of the forum: (i) the business world, (ii) trade unions and other civil society groups, (iii) the Cabinet and interested government departments along with judiciary and military representatives, (iv) universities and the youth, (v) the “voice of Anatolia” and (vi) international experts/organizations.

Discussions in the forum without any inhibitions and taboos are critically important to plant the seeds of creative and provocative thoughts and projects. Turkey’s future can be shaped only through projects, initiatives and proposals that fall outside the current patterns and mantras. The forum process should be conceived as a “facilitator,” “unifier” of existing synergies and a “guide” for new projects -- and not as their “executer.”

Final word

As a matter of fact, the two terms of government will be sufficient to put the essential pillars of this vision in place and radically change the face of Turkey for the better. Perseverance, devotion and hard work are needed, but we should not forget that the founding father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, accomplished the bulk of his revolutionary vision in a period of only 15 years (1923-1938) in between the two destructive world wars and in great deprivation.

Consider what more can be achieved in this age of speed and information and how we have largely wasted the past years. The future is now in our hands. It can be won or lost. A dynamic and enlightened leadership can kick off the process. Bear in mind that all great achievements in history began initially as dreams often ridiculed, but strong strategic vision, leadership, a sense of trust and vigorous follow-up have turned them into realities.

Hence, our message is crystal clear: Prepare and act now because “the future begins today.”