16 March 2010 / TAHA AKYOL MİLLİYET,
Are Turkish people paranoid or are they clear headed? I do not like generalizations like this. However, it is obvious that paranoia has been on the rise in Turkey for a long time.
We find a conspiracy theory in every situation and think that opinions we don’t like do not have the possibility of being wrong. An American journalist living in Turkey, Claire Berlinski, wrote an analysis in the Milliyet daily on Sunday. You should read it. Berlinski detailed her observations of Turkey. Of course, it can be argued as to whether or not her generalizations are true, but they are a little bit true. The title of the analysis is “The important role of conspiracy theories and paranoia in social and political life in Turkey.” Berlinski thinks there are two types of paranoia in Turkey. One of them is related to the word “reactionary,” a fear that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will bring Shariah to the country one day. The other fear concerns the “derin devlet,” or the “deep state,” that was found to have been behind every situation. When these situations are coupled with paranoia, big conspiracy theories can easily emerge in our minds.
