What is Next for Turkey?

At the start of this class, before we had ever set foot on Turkish soil we composed a short narrative that explained what each of us was expecting from our experiences in the city and in Turkey. I’d have to say very honestly that my expectations were exceeded in some areas and not met in others. Turkey, especially Istanbul, is Western and modern in ways I had not expected and yet Eastern and conservative in areas I had not expected. During my studies and observations I came to realize that Turkey, although leaning toward democracy, is not a functional democracy as of yet. The state and military institutions play a major role in the direction that the country moves. The people not only do fully participate in their government or fulfill traditional civic duties, but they seem to not want or know how to. This is one area that my expectations were not met. I had anticipated that Turkey was on its way to a governmental style that is more western. Previous to my travel here I had heard that Turkey was a candidate for EU membership. I had envisioned a much more developed democracy.
Political Turkey is not the only area that I am able to reflect on as my trip comes to an end. Religious contradictions are not what I expected. Before understanding the history; I thought that the strict secularist government was new and the people had reached it through progress. I now understand that the strict secularist is fighting to ensure freedoms that Turkish people have always enjoyed. The growth of the Islamist party in Turkey has brought new trends not rekindled old ones. I believe that this is a misconception of Turkey that many Westerners have.
Economically speaking, Turkey has blown my mind. I am a little disappointed that the trip was not as inexpensive as I’d have liked it to be, but this is good news for Turkey. As they are developing their economy and becoming a destination spot for tourists from all over the world, they are capitalizing on the new money that is coming into their country. The economy, while possibly a bit over inflated, is strong and backed by a young and dedicated work force. This strength may be Turkey’s life line to the future. A successful Turkish economy will bring competition and vibrance to the market here. A successful economy means less world isolation and less likelihood for religious extremists to have a chance at controlling Turkey’s future.
Education is also one of the keys to Turkey’s future. I have read about how the system favors individuals that are able to get into military school; furthering the bias of a strong military in society. This is an area that I had not even considered before coming to Turkey. I believe that the strong military is a major asset for Turkey as the country moves forward. The geographic position of the state calls for a strong military presence, and it also shows the world that Turkey is ready to be a part of the world’s political and military stage. If the country can shift the military’s focus as it progresses toward a democracy, and use its military education system to reach more young men and women; than the military does not have to weaken in order to accommodate national changes. Instead it can become one of the country’s biggest assets.
I am excited to return home and keep tabs on Turkey and watch its development. I don’t expect its identity to be fully western or eastern, but expect it to continue to be unique. It is a blend of both and has the opportunity to capture the attention of the world and set examples of tolerance and unity for the region. It may be many years before I have the opportunity to walk the streets of Istanbul again and soak up the Mediterranean sun, but I look forward to seeing the changes to come.