The fate of Turkey.

[Mouthwash]

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's Prime Minister, has recently threatened to ban Youtube and Facebook for promoting "immorality and espionage."

This in light of the recent corruption scandal, the polarization of Turkish politics, the rise of antisemitism and conspiracy theories, Turkey's economic turnaround, and the collapse of Ergodan's foreign policy. Despite the fact that Turkey was (and still is) one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East, the question is: will the lunatic in charge pull Turkey into civil war? Will there be a long-term internal crisis? Either way, we'll be hearing much more of Turkey over the next decade.

 

[Kyriakos]

Well, it looks like they will have a worse crisis in the near future. I hope it won't mean utter destruction. I even more hope that it will mean a far better climate in our region (along with the demise of our own puppet politicians, of course).

One of the main issues Turkey has is that the westernmost part (Constantinople+Ionian coast) has almost nothing in common with the rest of the country.

 

[Mouthwash]

One of the main issues Turkey has is that the westernmost part (Constantinople+Ionian coast) has almost nothing in common with the rest of the country.

And if the Islamist factions and the EU get into a tug of war? Could it end up like Ukraine?

 

[onejayhawk]

I thought you meant this

 

[muhtesem insan]

RTE(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) lost his ability to rule the country. He has no control of bureaucracy, have fanatical 50% supporters and 50% enemies. Lots of my friends had fights (not physical) over this and don't speak to each other. This can't continue forever.

 

[Silurian]

I thought you meant this

That Turkey looks like it has a bit of Greece dripping off it.

 

[warpus]

The most important thing is that Turkey remains a secular state. The peeps in charge seem to want to change this, which would destabilise the country and region.

 

[muhtesem insan]

The most important thing is that Turkey remains a secular state. The peeps in charge seem to want to change this, which would destabilise the country and region.

Secularism without democracy would not do any good in long term. That's the real for problems in Turkey now. Oppressed religious folk are more dangerous for both Turkey and world.

 

[NovaKart]

I find it difficult to sympathize with either side as well. The secular nationalists have a real fascist tinge to them, even though they constantly refer to the AKP as fascist. I don't like the AKP either, especially since they started closing liquor stores at 10 and keep raising the price of alcohol to the point it's too expensive.

 

[cybrxkhan]

The fate of Turkey? To be reabsorbed into either a neo-Byzantine Empire or a neo-Ottoman Empire.

In my deluded fantasies, only.




Seriously, though, whatever happens to Turkey, it's gonna have interesting repurcussions on the Middle East, that's for sure.

 

[NovaKart]

I don't think there's any effective leadership of the opposition. However, I can't say I keep up with Turkish politics enough to say.

 

[muhtesem insan]

I don't think there's any effective leadership of the opposition. However, I can't say I keep up with Turkish politics enough to say.

Actually they're readying Mustafa Sarıgül for Prime Minister a CHP (So called social democrat but nationalist seculars), MHP (Religous Nationalists) coalition is my guess for next term.

 

[NovaKart]

I see, I haven't been in Turkey for over a year except for a 1 week visit to Cizre and Urfa last year. Do you think they stand a good chance?

I found this article interesting, the AKP seems to be working hard to bring the Kurds to their side but I would be skeptical of how sincere they are.

Turkey's Davutoglu cheered for speaking Kurdish in Iraqi Kurdistan

March 4, 2014

SULÊMANÎ, Kurdistan region 'Iraq',— Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arrived on Tuesday morning at the Kurdistan Region’s city of Sulêmanî to attend in a conference held in American University of Sulêmanî.

Turkey's foreign minister, whose government has long been at odds with Kurdish nationalists at home and abroad, drew cheers Tuesday when he opened a speech in Iraqi Kurdistan region using the Kurdish language.

"I am happy to be at the forum in Sulêmanî," Ahmet Davutoglu said in Kurdish to a gathering of academics and politicians at the American University of Iraq in the autonomous Kurdistan region's second city of Sulêmanî [Sulaimaniyah].

The fact he used Kurdish, a language rarely spoken by Turkish politicians, drew raucous applause and cheers from the crowd.

Davutoglu added that he hoped Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, recovers from the effects of a stroke, for which he has received treated in Germany for more than a year.

"These are from my heart to your heart," the minister then said in English, referring to his Kurdish remarks.

Davutoglu's Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari, later said the Turkish minister's remarks constituted "a big, big change".

http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/3/state7801.htm

 

[warpus]

Secularism without democracy would not do any good in long term. That's the real for problems in Turkey now. Oppressed religious folk are more dangerous for both Turkey and world.

I would say that a secular non-democratic state is a step up over a theocracy.

 

[Arwon]

I don't like the AKP either, especially since they started closing liquor stores at 10 and keep raising the price of alcohol to the point it's too expensive.

Sounds like they're trying to turn it into Sydney

 

[Tahuti]

I would say that a secular non-democratic state is a step up over a theocracy.

What do you mean by 'theocracy'? It is used way too liberally.

 

[muhtesem insan]

I see, I haven't been in Turkey for over a year except for a 1 week visit to Cizre and Urfa last year. Do you think they stand a good chance?

I found this article interesting, the AKP seems to be working hard to bring the Kurds to their side but I would be skeptical of how sincere they are.



http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/3/state7801.htm

They'll loose lots of votes. Kurds are unhappy with governments reluctancy for peace talks and their stance on Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan). There's a good chance they'll loose Urfa to BDP.

 

[muhtesem insan]

I find it difficult to sympathize with either side as well. The secular nationalists have a real fascist tinge to them, even though they constantly refer to the AKP as fascist. I don't like the AKP either, especially since they started closing liquor stores at 10 and keep raising the price of alcohol to the point it's too expensive.

I want to add that secular nationalists' position became more tolerant after Gezi Park Protests. People started to question Media and State after experiencing state's brutality firsthand. Of course that fascist tendencies didn't disappear but it's slightly better.

 

[Mouthwash]

Quick fact: Turkey has more jailed journalists than China or Iran. It has the most out of any country in the world.

 

[DemonicAppleGuY]

Turkey is a country torn between its Western dreams and its Islamic reality.

Turkey's exclusion from the EU is symbolic of its exclusion from the West.

Turkey has no choice but to face and embrace its Islamic heritage.

An Islamic Turkey could very easily take a leading role in the Islamic world. This will have a very interesting on relations there.