There are many views and opinions concerning the ruling government in Turkey. Many of which are negative and brutally honest about what they think. Stephen Kinzer in the Crescent & Star states his opinion of the ruling elite and the position the government has placed the people of Turkey. In this blog I will explore his writings mostly of the chapter titled “Dreaming in Turkish” and evaluate whether I agree based upon my studies and experience thus far in Turkey.
At one point, Kinzer states, “The country would certainly take a huge leap forward if people could be grabbed there (on Istiklal Street) at random and sent to Ankara to replace the members of Parliament.” (10) This street that he mentions is one that harbors people from all walks of life from diverse cultural backgrounds. The word Istiklal means independence. The diversity on this street is something Kinzer says frightens Turkey’s ruling elite. One might say that diversity is strength. Well, to most Americans yes, but to those who determine the state of Turkey, it is not. The same diversity that makes Istiklal Street so magnificent scares others, with its barely lit cobblestone allies and multicultural spread of ethnicities. That fear is far reaching all the way to Ankara, where the Parliament sits with thoughts of insecurity. They are frightened by Turkey’s neighbors and the West; they are frightened by Islamic extremists, and the Kurds. They have been so scared they have abandoned what Turkey was destined to be, a free democracy.
I have seen examples of this and believe this is a real problem for the Turkish people. Without a voice for the people, the people who believe in a free democracy Turkey will continue to struggle and will not reach its potential.
Kinzer also talks about how he believes that Turkey’s government has little to no trust in the people of Turkey to make decisions because they are not mature enough to do so. Turkey’s and its people have somehow made it through several attacks and criticism from sheiks and leaders from religious sects to Kurds to Europeans.
No one can deny that there are certain threats to Turkey, but most other countries have the same threats. The problem now it that the government of turkey thinks that the country is under attack and that every movement made by another country is a move made to take over. When something is always on the defensive they have little time or effort to plan or be on the offensive; to thrive.
Kinzer goes on to say that these attitudes of self preservation, isolation, and seclusion have turned the country of Turkey into the enemy of many other countries and organizations.
This thought can be viewed as very true. Turkey has is viewed as its own entity of sorts. It has some Middle-East attributes, while having some Balkan attributes, while having many Western, in particular, European attributes, because it does not fit in with any of these areas completely it abandons the similarities that it has with some of them.
At one point, Kinzer states, “The country would certainly take a huge leap forward if people could be grabbed there (on Istiklal Street) at random and sent to Ankara to replace the members of Parliament.” (10) This street that he mentions is one that harbors people from all walks of life from diverse cultural backgrounds. The word Istiklal means independence. The diversity on this street is something Kinzer says frightens Turkey’s ruling elite. One might say that diversity is strength. Well, to most Americans yes, but to those who determine the state of Turkey, it is not. The same diversity that makes Istiklal Street so magnificent scares others, with its barely lit cobblestone allies and multicultural spread of ethnicities. That fear is far reaching all the way to Ankara, where the Parliament sits with thoughts of insecurity. They are frightened by Turkey’s neighbors and the West; they are frightened by Islamic extremists, and the Kurds. They have been so scared they have abandoned what Turkey was destined to be, a free democracy.
I have seen examples of this and believe this is a real problem for the Turkish people. Without a voice for the people, the people who believe in a free democracy Turkey will continue to struggle and will not reach its potential.
Kinzer also talks about how he believes that Turkey’s government has little to no trust in the people of Turkey to make decisions because they are not mature enough to do so. Turkey’s and its people have somehow made it through several attacks and criticism from sheiks and leaders from religious sects to Kurds to Europeans.
No one can deny that there are certain threats to Turkey, but most other countries have the same threats. The problem now it that the government of turkey thinks that the country is under attack and that every movement made by another country is a move made to take over. When something is always on the defensive they have little time or effort to plan or be on the offensive; to thrive.
Kinzer goes on to say that these attitudes of self preservation, isolation, and seclusion have turned the country of Turkey into the enemy of many other countries and organizations.
This thought can be viewed as very true. Turkey has is viewed as its own entity of sorts. It has some Middle-East attributes, while having some Balkan attributes, while having many Western, in particular, European attributes, because it does not fit in with any of these areas completely it abandons the similarities that it has with some of them.
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