The Eastern Middle

Sticky Minds in International Relations

2009-02-10T01:25:00.001-08:00

The human mind is what I find the most mysterious. The way it functions. How it jumps from topic to topic. How original and diverse it really is. How it thinks, most importantly why? The mysterious way the human mind functions and the ‘stuff’ it accommodates. These questions make me think more and more. The more I think the less I really know. The more I try to find out the more I lose what I think I know. But I guess the the real question here is what is a mind that does not stick.

A mind that does not stick is a bird. A free, undisciplined,uncontrollable bird. A bird that makes its own decisions and puts them into actions. For example a seagull does not think about catching a fish. The seagull just does it. The seagull does not suffer from the consequences. The same seagull does not think before its actions. Its actions are based on instincts. Whereas we humans are a slave of our sticky mind. Its compulsive obsessive way makes us far far away from being free and completely independent. For example we have to think about the results of our actions. More certain we are bound to do so. Humans overrate the importance of society and others. That is what I think a sticky mind is. It is a mind without freedom and Independence.

A mind that does not stick is a plastic ball. A plastic ball filled with wild and weird dreams. An un-estimated plastic ball. Free and independent. Imagine a plastic ball- the kind that little kids play with- very plastic and very round, going up and down and right and left, not exactly stopping, not exactly jumping, doing what it wants to. Carefree and un-estimated. We humans have to be careful and estimated. The ones who are like this ball are not accepted in society. The are not good and wanted according to the sticky minds. Why? Its simple actually, because they do not fit the stereotype. The main dream of the stereotypes-sticky minds- is raising little stick mind babies. Babies without freewill.( Kind of like robots.) Humans are starting to degenerate. That is what I think a sticky mind is. It is a carefree, independent not degenerated mind.

A mind that does not stick is a perfume store, just around the corner. Diverse and original. No perfume smells like the previous. Everything is unpredictable in that sweet smelling store. Every smell is collided together. Maybe that is why when you enter the store you exit with the complete opposite you intend to buy. Perfumes make you confidant, self reliant. The smells frees you. Every person has a smell. Some smell sweet and pure, some very vamp and arrogant, some innocent. The smells give you away. They are a part of you personality. Now here comes what society thinks about smells. They think that a teenage girl should’t smell all vamp and arrogant. They think a ‘bad’ person shouldn't’t smell all innocent. What they do not know is that they are wearing sunglasses at night. That is what I think a stick mind is. A mind that does not take its sunglasses off at night. An intolerable and inflexible mind.

A mind that does not stick is a trumpet. The trumpet that I play. The shiny yellow surface that hides the smooth and soothing tunes ,that fill me with serenity. The way of the trumpet which I can never control. The fluent melody that decides what it wants to play. The Independence and clarity that it brings. My trumpet chose me. It chose me because I was different. I was free and brave. I did not have the cliche worries that my coevals had. The others all wanted to take my trumpet and start to play. They did not get to know it. They did not speak to it. They just wanted to play. They did not take the time and give the attention my trumpet wanted. They wanted to impress while I wanted to find my soul. That is what a sticky mind is. A mind that wants to impress. An afectative mind without any originality.
A mind that does not stick is a writers pen. An ordinary yet odd pen. A pen very old yet
Modernist. The best thing about this pen is that it has experience. It has already seen the past but is not closed to the future. It had no prejudice, yet tons of pride. It can write about anything yet nothing. The best thing about this pen is that the judgement is bound to the viewer. The secret meaning of the poem can only be understood by the ones who are ready to see the pens imagination and magic. The pen is esoteric. But to me a sticky mind is prejudice. A mind that is closed and dark.

A sticky mind can be said many many things. For me it was a bird, a ball, a perfume store a trumpet, and a pen. It was everything seen and everything felt. Reality and nothingness at the same time. But most importantly a sticky mind was a closed mind. A mind without questions! A mind that was truly bound to its decaying fate. To me a sticky mind was death.

After all of this writing I have a question to ask. How come I cannot spot one politician that has a free mind, that is not afraid of being ethical, that is not afraid of the truth?

NATO, Secularism, and Cultural Sensetivity

2009-01-14T22:11:00.000-08:00

The international arena is such a mind boggling field of study. As IR scholars in training, we are required to have good knowledge of history, culture, geography and so much more. This week I have decided to ask you your opinion on a subject that I am very confused on; the structure of NATO.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, is an institution which has a secular organizational culture that still reflects the Cold-War world order. However, it is still the most efficient of military organizations, having a list of successes worldwide.

What do you think about the rising prominence of religion and ethics in the post Cold-War world and how does/how can NATO accommodate these factors in its partnerships and initiatives.

Does NATO need to be culture sensitive? And do you think that NATO is doing something wrong?

Israel and Palestine; Tragedy and Mistakes...

2009-01-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

Lately all that I read about in Turkish newspapers, and American ones for that matter, is about the "war" between Israel and Palestine. Let me elaborate because I am not comfortable with using the word war; but cannot find a more suitable phrase for the situation. The words "issue," "problem," or "struggle" just don't fit. It is a war; It is war between culture, heritage, understandings, religion, territory...And it is war that is humanitarianly not excusable.

The latest I have read is about the Israel bombings that have taken place at Gaza is that there are more than 400 people, 400 human beings, have died. I do not want to analyze strategy nor motives behind the actions of Israel or Palestine, but I do want to talk about the origins of this problem, which also can be linked to strategy analysis.

Sam Huntington's theory, "Clash of Civilizations," is one of the useful frameworks to keep in mind when looking at the situation. Israeli's and Palestinians are fighting over land when looked in very broad terms. BUT that land symbolises their culture, their heritage, their religion, their societies, which means that the actors are not states but culture at war.

When I first started out studying IR, and took Prof. Becker's Third World Negotiation class, I was appalled by the fact that he wanted me to argue from Israel's point of view, me being a Turk and all. I thought that there was no justification behind their actions and the case was very black and white...Turns out I was very, incredibly WRONG... So below I will just talk about what I have learned from Prof. Becker and Prof. Hulme about Middle East Politics, and specifically the case of Israel and Palestine.

Lesson One; The case is not black and white. There is not clear cut solution, nor there is a clear cut problem. There are so many reasons leading to the complications and sadly they are not being analyzed correctly, therefore no solution. First of all there is one HUGE problem from a historical point of view; The Balfour Declaration. Which is famous for what it does not say; Thank you Lord Rothschild you have complicated the issue for the future.(Hint; Sarcasm does wonders.) So when this letter is read you ask yourself; What are the borders of Palestine exactly? What is Palestinian National Identity?

Lesson Two: It should be understood that not all Palestinians are Anti-Israel and vice versa. Many want peace and co-existence. Many want their kids to be able to go to the same school as Israeli's and be friends.

Lesson Three; Jerusalem/Kudus and the importance it bears for both sides. And how emotions cannot be refrained when talking about Jerusalem/Kudus.

Lesson Four; There needs to be significant compromise from both sides. Sadly neither of the actors/culture have decided that it is necessary.

Just my observation; shuttle diplomacy is not working to its full potential. Mainly because there is not clear cut governmental power in Palestine; within so much chaos and intolerance how can there be?

About Turkey's mediation role in the eastern middle...

I think there could not be a better actor for this role, for many reasons like the decline of the Ottoman Empire is the trigger in the formation of the Middle East as we have come to know of it today.
Although Erdogan might not be the ideal diplomat in my standards, and in the standards of many, he sure is more suitable to talk to Middle Eastern leaders than anyone else.(When considering his background and such.) However I do think that he is making a one sided argument jeopardizing the good relations that Turkey has had with Israel from the very beginning, not because of humanitarian reasons but other motives. However he is someone who is a representative of my nation and the most important thing for Turkey to prioritize is protecting human rights!...

I just want to say; the killing of civilians, killing of human beings is not excusable, justifiable, or noble in any cause. I am deeply saddened by the recent attacks and ALL of the attacks. I am also angry that I see no solution to this, realistically speaking... I cannot believe that there are people out there who use the lives of innocent people as a tool to make their voices heard, and to make their argument stronger. The truth is all that these meaningless massacres are undermining whatever it is that you try to defend.

I have so much more to say, and so much more thinking to do. This is not even the tip of the iceberg. But I will end again with my childish hope of CO-EXISTENCE...Leaders we, people who think before they act, beg of you to learn from previous mistakes, and if you cannot do so, let ones who can...

Let there be peace...

Football Diplomacy, Normalization, and Apologies

2009-01-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

As the first post of the new year, I have decided to write about an issue that I find to be one of great importance for Turkish diplomacy, foreign affairs and in the broad sense international relations. It is quite a subject and I will do my best to be as objective as I can for my framework, however I am a Turk and my opinions might not be as unbiased as I would like. So that being said I would like to introduce the issue; The Armenian Massacres of 1915.

Normally I am not in favor of choosing this subject to write or discuss about in any circumstance because firstly many people have strong stances and are not open to new ideas. As personal observation, the Armenian diaspora is doing a grand job preventing the Turkish viewpoint from being heard. For example I have a hard time just presenting my point of view in a scholarly environment, and even have people look at me like I have lost my mind. The fact of the matter is that these people who think I am arguing for the wrong "side" are undermining their argument by preventing people from listening to the Turkish perspective. This is the main problem I see about the Armenian-Turkish relations today. The second problem is the hostility that I have experienced from some Armenians. All seems well with some Armenians until I state that I am Turkish. I find this to be very in-humane. And I hope that this is not taken in the wrong sense. I have nothing against Armenia, nor the Armenian people. Actually I think that it is very sad to see that something that happened a century ago is hindering relations between two very similar nations, cultures and societies. Also I am lucky to say that one of my very good friends is Armenian and it is possible to have differentiating views on issues and not be hostile, but carry on the debate in a peaceful fashion.

Lets put history aside for now and talk about the present. What is going on right now? Are there any progress in the relations between Armenia and Turkey? Is there a possibility for much needed peace and brotherhood? Well, I am sure that any reasonable person would hope so! And from my viewpoint there is development and decrease in hostility. Although I do see some problems in Turkey's approach to the issue, which is the understatement of this problem. Until I came to the USA to study international relations I did not fully grasp the full importance that this issue possessed nor do I think that the general Turkish public did, and they still do not. I just want to state that I am against everyone, no matter what argument they have decided to embrace, that have not done sufficient research on their own, deciding solely on what they have heard.

Football diplomacy... (Honestly, I think that this should be taken into measure by IR scholars. This terms deserves a spot next to shuttle diplomacy.) I really think that this is a good way to approach the problem. The two nations should try to bind themselves with common interests that hopefully will destroy the hate and hostility. This is a tool in the path of normalization.

Apologies...

Some Turkish scholars have come together and have decided to apologize for the catastrophe that happened in 1915. Analyzing this matter, I am going to be very blunt and I hope that I do not offend anyone, and if I do please note that it was not intentional.

Point one: They did not use the word genocide, which means that their intention is not to back the Armenian argument but to act as a catalyst for the normalization process.

Point two: Was it necessary? I think NOT. I do not think that this was the appropriate time for something so extreme. I am extremely pro-peace but timing is everything in the international arena and I think that their timing was way off.

Point three: In relations with point two, because of the bad timing this "gesture" was not given importance.

In conclusion, I think that it is heart-breaking to see that two nations that are so similar, who are brother and sister, cannot get along. I remind you all that the issue happened a century ago...How can you let this hinder your relations one hundred years later. And please do not use humanitarian excuses...We all know what happened in Khojali..

I end, again, with one word; COEXIST!

Peace at home, peace in the world....

The Wishlist

2008-12-31T02:21:00.000-08:00

We are entering a new year. 2009 precisely speaking, and all over the world people are making wish-lists or new years resolutions, which are quite personal and subjective. And that is exactly what my list is going to look like- the main difference will be that I will focusing on world events and the "rational actor" will be the international arena. So below are my hopes and fears of the coming year...
I hope that;
-President Obama acts with realism and ideology immersed in each other, not with the latter clouding his judgment of the world.
-There is a solution to the Iraq problem; although it seems impossible for the Shi'i's, Sunni's and Kurd's to peacefully coexist.
-Palestine and Israel understand that there needs to be compromise, and that one party originates this attitude.
-The bureaucratic corruption, that exists in all the countries in the Eastern Middle, can be understood as the origins of the turmoil. Rogues must be terminated.
-Religion, all of them, in extremist vision, harms the world. No one should be demanded to believe, or harmed because of their views.
-Youth is given more importance. After all, they are going to be the statesmen in the future. So more importance to education.
-Diplomacy can provide many solutions if carried on by diplomats, not people who pose as.
-Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is not remembered and praised, but embraced and internalized. His views of a modern and secular Turkey do not demand that people view him as a god, but carry his ideals and objectives in a peaceful manner.
-Turkey does not hope for membership to the European Union. All the indications are visible; Turkey is not welcome.
-Machiavellian politicians decrease in numbers.
-More importance and capital is given to the many humanitarian problems of the world. Not for appearance but from the understanding that we all deserve the highest standard possible.
-The economic downfall ceases. Many that are unemployed are hired, so people can bring food to their tables.

It should be understood that as long as individuals exist there will be differentiating views on issues. The most important thing is that we learn to respect others.
My fear for the coming year is that not even one of my hopes will become reality. Even one of these has the potential to change the world. As long as there are people who believe that coexistence can happen there is a chance.

Happy new year.
May it bring much needed love, peace and harmony to our lives and to the lives of others...

The Spectrum Of Turkish Politics

2008-11-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

Up to this date I have addressed some of the issues which are considered to be the main problems of Turkey in my posts. However they were very specified and focused on one main theme in context of international relations. Therefore this week I have decided to explore the blogosphere in a more broad umbrella, trying to find blogs and websites that address issues in a more general spectrum. That provide to be good sources for opinion as well as objectivity, that provide more than a single theme throughout. (I feel as if I am being repetitive, but there is a huge lack in blogs that focus on my issue area- therefore the sources are limited.) Thus the first blog that has captured my attention is called Internation Musing, a blog that I have closely followed the past months. The post is titled " Erdogan Is Coming; Beware and Be Afraid" and it has two main themes that prevail. The first one is the issue of leadership (Erdogan is the prime minister of Turkey, he is also known as RTE or Tayyeap.) in politics, the second is the issue of secularism/laicism. It should be understood that these two themes are bound together, in terms of impact to decision making, in the Turkish Republic as well as any state that is struggling with the maintenance of the separation of church and state. The second blog that has been a good source for the Eastern Middle these past months, is called the Istanbulian. Emre Kizilkaya has yet to disappoint us when writing about the problems that Turkey is facing. He is strictly secular in thought and extremely critical. He weighs the situations and writes about an issue from a 360' perspective. He is not afraid of challenging himself and in my opinion this makes his blog priceless. His recent post titled "Germany Has Banned Wikipedia: A Result of EU's Bid To Join Turkey?" focuses on the common theme of secularism/laicism, the importance of leadership, and censorship. All of which hold a crucial value both domestically and internationally in the case of Turkey. I have included my comments for you to read below:

"Erdogan Is Coming: Beware and Be Afraid"
Comment:
Hello again Internation Musing,
Thanks for the interesting post about Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I think that there was a lack of leadership analysis in the world of politics in the past decade but I see that this has changed. (Maybe due to Barack Obama and his charisma.) I think that leadership is the core of human relations let alone international relations. It is the instinct that drives certain individuals to want power over other less fortunate individuals. Of course not all leaders are bad. Saying that would be too skeptical. There are many types of leadership and some leaders have, indeed, proven to the world that they are forces of good. For example Mahatma Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and needless to say Barack Obama has a strong chance of being included in this category. There is no consensus on what traits a good leader should bear, how and why he/she should act. This makes commenting on leadership more difficult and subjective, but I agree with your analysis of RTE every step of the way. For example you state "Yes, the Prime Minister of Turkey sees himself as a real peace broker. And deep in his heart he thinks that He deserves the Nobel Price for Peace and not all those lunatics who earned it the last decades. But can he make peace at Home? I have my doubts. He is flying too high above his own people to connect with reality. And his perception capacity is troubled someway, somehow." indicating that you think that RTE has misconceptions and delusions. I agree! RTE is yet one of the worst to come to power, and sadly the people of Turkey have chosen this incompetent, uneducated and anti-charismatic man. Personally I try to understand what kind of appeal he has over the masses, but I after a while I just stop trying.
In conclusion thank you for writing on RTE with such good understanding of his "courage" and "patriotism." I look forward to reading the next post.

"Germany Has Banned Wikipedia:A Result Of EU's Bid To Join Turkey?"
Hello Emre,
I am glad to see despite the blogger ban you have found a way to keep on writing. Ironically your post is about bans and censorship, something that you have personally encountered, and your stance is understood. You state "Is this the latest consequence of Turkey's EU negotiations?! Maybe Turkish institutions transform the German ones now! Maybe we finally find a common ground in judicial domain! Should we expect a Youtube ban in Germany soon?" and although you say you are joking, I actually think that there is a funny possibility of this having a chance to be true. However I agree with you when you say "Germans showed some of their characteristic traits once again: Their actions are more decisive and efficient than Turks, as the nature of their Wikipedia ban is quite different than the Turkish bans." Also the intention of the German ban is quite different than the Turkish ban. This all comes back to the understanding of secularism and sadly Turkey is not passing with flying colors...But why? Is it because of RTE? Is it because we have forgotten our Ata? Is it because we are losing our values in this rapid globalization? Whatever the case, whatever the circumstances and whoever the "leader" I hope as well that we can cease this backwards jog. I know that it must not be pleasant having to stop saying your mind. Thank you again for your posts and blog. It is reliving to see that some people do not give up because of bans and censorship. I look forward to you next post!

Remembering Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

2008-11-11T19:39:00.001-08:00

Mustafa Kemal is the father of the Turkish Republic, he is the sole reason that us Turk's stand free and liberated from bigotry. He was a true leader, he was a man of magnificent intelligence and inner strength. He has redefined leadership. As an example I would like to remind you what Atatürk wrote as a tribute to the ANZAC's killed at Gallipoli in 1934.

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well."

There are no words to describe the dignity that he possessed. As the Youth of Turkey, it is up to us honor him. Not by saying his name, but by defending his values. By defending our proud nation. Because without Ataturk, nothing could have been possible. I am proud to be a Turk, now more than ever!

NE MUTLU TURKUM DIYENE!

Torn In Two: Can Turkey Join The European Union

2008-11-11T01:13:00.000-08:00

Turkey’s accession process to join the European Union similar to the 1001 Night Tales; there is always another story following the previous one. The main difference between the two "tales" is the time frame, which is measured in decades rather than days. Although the struggle that Turkey is going through is quite entertaining to follow, it is disturbing to observe that no real progress is being made from either sides. The European Union is acting in a very stubborn fashion to decrease any existing possibility to allow Turkey’s membership, and Turkey does not compromise at the extent the EU would be satisfied. This cycle is yet to be broken, and the actors are feeling more and more "stressed" by the outcomes of the negotiation.

As I mentioned earlier, there is always an interaction between the two actors, and it should be understood that geopolitically The Republic of Turkey is torn between being a European state and a Middle Eastern state. Although in the international arena Turkey is being attributed as a Middle Eastern country, I am in consensus with Samuel Huntington, when he says that Turkey is a torn country. (It brings me to wonder why the international arena is ignoring the theories of Huntington who is a very prominent scholar in this field. For people who are interested in this specific topic I recommend Samuel Huntington’s “Clash Of Civilizations”). The factors that have led to this are vast, but I think the main reason for Turkey to be such a torn state is the decreasing feeling of national identity. The sense of belonging. The origin of this can be traced back to the Ottoman's "tolerance" rule, and the diverse ethnicities living in the country.

As a country in dilemma Turkey has some serious issues that should be resolved in order to meet the standards of the EU. I cannot touch upon all but three main categories in which I would like to elaborate on. The first category is human rights violation, which is an ethical and moral expectation. The EU’s ration is completely understandable because no matter the circumstances and situation a human should receive these rights. The biggest problem that the EU had in this topic was capital punishment, and Turkey has banned capital punishment in August 2004, (although no person had been executed since 1984), with the ideal of joining the EU. The second category is the Cyprus conflict that has been going on since the 1960’s. Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic (KKTC) is not recognized by the international arena and is therefore relying on Turkey as a host state. KKTC is sovereign in its domestic issues and has interdependence, however in the international interactions it is seen to be a part of Turkey. The “battle” between KKTC and Cyprus seems to be in a similar yet more problematic cycle because there is not possibility of compromise between the actors, unlike Turkey’s accession. Joshua Walker, an extraordinary scholar in the area of international relations, summarizes the origins of this problem as national identity in his article, A Turkish-Cypriot Perspective, "This history of domination has left an indelible impact on the island, most notably through the presence of two distinct communities of Greeks and Turks. Though considering Cyprus their historical homes, these communities are too small to defend themselves and have looked to their respective homelands for protection against their occupiers. Historically these inhabitants have never been consulted by their rulers and have not developed a sense of Cypriot unity. In the wake of World War Two and the disintegration of the British Empire, this historical pattern was followed when an independent Cypriot state was negotiated and conceived of by the former occupiers of the island, Britain, Greece, and Turkey." The third category is the Armenian massacre, and the terminology that the Turkey should adapt. The Turkish Republic’s stance is strong and will not accept that what happened is a genocide, because there was no intention of ethnic cleansing. The other case that can also be given as an example is the Kurd uprisings, its relationship with terror and most importantly its impacts on national identity. In a country so diverse in ethnicity it is clearly seen that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's implementation of national identity has not carried itself to the present as strong as one would have hoped. As a student studying this region, my understanding is that although Turkey is willing to compromise on many things, the latter two categories are not on the table for negotiation with the EU, because these are in direct relations with territorial integrity and the extremely valued Turkish national identity.

The European Union is not delusional for requesting a potential member to increase standards before accepting it into the union, however the EU does not stop there. Apart from many demands that Turkey has willingly performed, the EU deliberately finds new hoops for Turkey to jump through. Adam Hug, policy director at the Foreign Policy Center said in the recently published report "Turkey in Europe: The Economic Case for Turkish Membership of the EU”; "The eventual decision by existing EU member states to accept or reject Turkey will have significant ramifications for the type of organization it will become. Turkish membership will signify a choice for Europe between becoming an outward-looking Union at peace with its internal diversity that prioritizes economic and security needs of its members, or an insular, almost parochial grouping, searching for an imagined cultural homogeneity. Failure to grant Turkish accession could be one of the greatest strategic mistakes the EU could inflict upon itself, one that would be hugely harmful to business and undermine European prosperity and security. The huge commitments Turkey is making cannot be allowed to be undermined by ’low politics’ in European capitals." Hug’s statement clearly indicates that there is a hidden agenda of the EU. And it is precisely because of this hidden agenda that the accession process of Turkey is prolonging.

It is obvious that neither the EU nor Turkey will give up. Many questions arise in our minds; who will be the beneficiary in the end of this tiring process? Does Turkey really need to be a part of the EU? Will Turkey truly be a European State if the membership is granted? Is it really worth the time and capital of a struggling country? In conclusion, I will end with this cliché saying summarizing this never-ending cycle. Time will tell…(I just hope that time will tell in my life span.)

The World Is Changing

2008-11-04T21:25:00.000-08:00

This week I have decided to explore the blogosphere in search of international events and their effects on Turkey, both domestically and internationally. Interestingly the few great sources that I have come across have the same topic in agenda; the presidential election that the United States of America is going through and its impact on the international arena. I have analyzed their thoughts and viewpoints in regards to the focus of my blog. The first blog that I commented on is called Internation Musing. It is a blog initiated by Hans A.H.C, a Dutch living in Istanbul with co-bloggers from Turkey, Greece, The Netherlands, and the USA. This blog focuses on politics, culture, religion, art, daily life, and communications. The reason that I find this blog to be such a solid source is because of the diverse opinions that the bloggers bring. The quality of Internation Musing is the vastness of its spectrum. I have chosen to comment on a post titled "Hop Aboard The Obama Change Train" written by Bea Vanni from North Carolina, because she passionately argues about how Senator Obama will bring the much needed change that the USA and the world has been anticipating. The second article that I chose to comment on is not from a blogsite, but a website called the Turkish Daily News. The article is called "US Presidential Elections And The World." It is written by Ilter Turkmen, a Turkish diplomat and politician, who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey in the early 80's.The reason why I chose this article rather than a blog post is because I though that Turkmen would be a credible and legitimate scholar analyzing the issue from an educated and knowledgeable Turkish perspective. This article talks about the outcome that Turkey will experience as a result of this election. I have commented on Bea Vanni's post in Internation Musing and emailed Ilter Turkmen, but I am also including my comments below.

Comment One:
Bea,

Thank you for you intriguing post. The presidential election is indeed a crucial subject for the United States as well as the rest of the world. The outcome, without a doubt, will impact the international arena and will be an important day in history, no matter the result. I agree with you when you argue that it is Senator Obama who triggered the conscience of the nation to go running to vote. I also agree that Obama is like a breath of fresh air to stale American politics. He is different than what we are accustomed to see and expect. He truly is a charismatic standing for the whole of the nation rather than the elite. Barack Obama may very well be the leader that the US Nation and the world is waiting for, in order to cease the downgrade of US power, using diplomacy as a tool, development and peace as a goal. Speaking of leadership, the Parade Magazine survey that you have included in your post worries me. I question the analysis of a current presidential candidate in regards to two "great" presidents of the past. The major issues that arose while I was thinking, were who are the two greatest presidents that Obama and McCain are being compared to? Greatness is a subjective concept and including this type of evidence in your post makes the reader question the credibility. Also another issue I would like to point out is that you have brought out the advantages of having Barack Obama as president and you have not criticized him at all. However you have criticized John McCain to the maximum and have not included advantages of having him as president. Is this because you truly do not have any common views with John McCain? Or is it your personal bias towards Obama? You end by saying "Barack Obama is the only choice for a new America and the restoration of foreign diplomacy and teamwork." Either way, I hope that for the sake of the world that the most beneficial result comes. Thank you Bea, for making me think about many parts of this election that I had not earlier. I look forward to your next post.
Mert,
Assuming from your name that you are Turkish, I am glad to see such optimism and faith in change and development. We all are wishing for the best outcome, however from a realistic Turkish perspective I suggest that you understand fully the decisions that Obama will make that might not benefit the Turkish Nation.

Best,
Aylin Ece Cicek
http://www.aylinececicek.blogspot.com/

Comment Two:
Mr. Turkmen,

First of all I would like to say that your article titled " US Presidential Elections And The World" has analyzed the current situation in the USA and its impact on our country, Turkey, with great depth, detail and realism. I think that your approach should be a consensus throughout the Turkish community. It is clear that the presidential candidates, both John McCain and Barack Obama have brought forth cognitive images to all of us. McCain being the past and Obama being the future, is an accurate description of this. The world public is supporting Obama, and even the Turkish public. I find this to be disturbing because I do not think that the public understand the situation with all of its advantages and disadvantages. They cannot see the consequences that either result brings. Although I think that Barack Obama will be a better choice for the world, I must say I have my doubts about the impact of his decision making to our country. I am also as concerned with John McCain and his extreme realism. Although McCain can be noted as a liberal republican, he still has some values that are not up to date with the era that we exist within. Coming back to how Turkey would be impacted by this election and the next president of the USA, I think that you have narrowed the concerns of our nation successfully. The three main worries that Turkey has, them being terrorism, Cyprus, and the Armenian issues, are what we should be focusing on as a nation. You end by saying: "Nuance is critical in diplomacy and officiousness is dangerous." This statement indicates the depth of your experience and quality of your ideas. Thank you Mr. Turkmen, I look forward to your next article.

Best,

Aylin Ece Cicek

http://www.aylinececicek.blogspot.com/

UPDATE: Senator Barack Obama has been elected to be the next president of the United States of America.

You Cannot Read This Post In Turkey

2008-10-28T01:48:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 24, the blogosphere suffered from a major blow; Google powered Blogger was banned in the Turkish Republic. Anyone who went to view the vast spectrum of blogs, from a Turkish IP address, came upon the same message: “ Access to this website has been banned by court order.” The irony is quite clear, how is will the Turkish Government continue to argue that it is democratic?

Lets try to decrypt this situation, little by little, step by step. What was the main cause for this unjust ban? At first it was rumored that Adnan Okyar, the leading Muslim advocate for creationism caused the ban. However later on it was understood that this was just a speculation and the real reason that caused the blogger ban was infringement. Blogger was sued by a subscription based Turkish TV platform, DigiTurk, because there were some bloggers that broadcasted DigiTurk’s channels without permission. In conclusion the domain of blogger and *.blogger.com is not accessible from a Turkish IP address any longer. This being a reminder of the ban of popular website You Tube, which came across the same fate no longer than six months ago.
Enlightened media experts, journalists and amateur bloggers are furious, as well as the general public. This impacts the freedom of speech that has been promised to Turkish citizens because they are living in a democratic country. Emre Kizilkaya, blogger of The Istanbulian, also a Blogger.com site, says: “I changed my mind: The AKP should have been banned long ago, because it allows the banning of everything except itself. This is not democracy.” I think that even the supporters of the current government have lost their feeling of unconditional legitimacy towards AKP. A few students who have the same stance as Mr. Kizilkaya, wanted to protest this ban but were immediately silenced by the “police” in a forceful manner. The consequences of this action can, hopefully, shake off the ignorance and silence that some Turks possess. Maybe they will then understand than the nation is being given away to the dark and primitive thoughts of the current ruling party, the AKP.
Looking at this situation from an international relations lens, I find many troubling aspects. The first one is the violation of freedom, which also has a strong link with the idea of secularism or laicism, about which I have wrote in my previous post “Secularism: Friend or Foe.” Living in a country which identifies itself as democratic, should not ban a platform because of infringement. In other words, many should not pay the penalty of the impertinence of few. Censorship should not play a role in a secular country. The second aspect is how this ban will be analyzed in the international arena. It is known that the ties that Turkey has with the actors in the international community is currently not that strong. Especially in the case of the European Union and the accession process that has been ongoing for what it seems like decades. Since the EU has been demanding from Turkey, the conservation of rights, this puts the country in an even worse position than before. It seems to me that membership to the EU is close to impossible. (Not that I think it is necessary in any manner, due to the adaptation problems that will occur, and the values that the EU is supposedly bearing!) The last aspect that I wish to touch upon is the ignorant press release of Binali Yildirim, Minister of Transportation. Spectacularly high intelligence is not needed to come upon this question: how is this person of any relevance to the case discussed about the ban of blogger? The answer is, he is not of any relevance, but since he is on the side of AKP, no one interrogates what he said: “ We have to be careful, as a ministry, for the people not to be badly impacted by the Internet.” What does the ministry of transportation have anything to do with the ban of Blogger and You Tube? These small but important indicators are proof that the AKP is not doing its job in a dignified manner.

As a Turkish citizen myself, I have learned not to be overly critical of situations because sanity is at stake. However in order to achieve the goals that I have for the future, I need to come up with solid arguments to silly situations. However I am certain about how I feel about my freedom; It should not and cannot be taken away from me because of the mistakes of others. This ban is a clear manifestation of the governments policies toward the values that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk implemented on society while the formation of the Turkish Republic. With those blogs, my freedom, my ideas, my values, and the values of Ataturk have also been banned. I am collateral damage, and I do not like it.

Exploration of Research Methods

2008-10-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

This week I have been exploring the Web, in search of more resources to develop my perspective of the international arena. The Web is filled with information, but one must be sure not to believe all of the material crowding the Internet. They might not be true, accurate, and reliable. Since my blog is based on analysis of the events going on in the international arena of the middle east, I need to gather reliable, solid data. This makes my posts and blog respectable. Therefore my task this week was not easy, but I believe I have found reliable sources that will clinch my analyses to be more respected and reliable. I have used IMSA and Webby criteria to evaluate the websites and blogs that I have found to be knowledgeable sources for my field of international relations. These links have been added to my linkroll, which can be seen at the right side of my blog, but I will also evaluate them in further detail.
I would like to start with the blogs that I follow daily. The first one is called “The Istanbulian” and it is written by a Turkish journalist working in one of the prominent newspapers. Although the blog raises valid issues, I think that the layout is anti-professional and limit’s the credibility of the writer. It is a hard blog to follow, without any interactivity. However I do think that the content is solid, and the analyses worth following every day. The second blog, called “The White Path” does not bare any of this visual disadvantages. This blog is also written by a journalist, who has very different views of the Turkish government, and it is expanding my horizons to see issues from a different perspective. However the writer does not seem to be involved with his blog personally, and this insincerity transfers to the reader. The third blog I have been following is called “Middle East Politics” and I find this blog to be a good source to the ideas of the young. The visual design is fulfilling making the navigation easy. Although one problem that I have experienced, is the unorganized posts. They should be labeled under each country for better functionality, rather than all of the posts page after page. Memri, The Middle East Research Institute, has this problem sorted out by making an archive by the dates of the posts. The reason Memri is of substantial value is the fact that it gives an idea of what a research institute based in the middle east looks at the internal affairs of Turkey. Although Memri is not satisfying in the context of interactivity and depth, it provides a different perspective. This is precisely the reason why the Middle East Blog of the Times Magazine is intriguing to follow. It provides a western perspective to the region in turmoil. This blog is visually satisfying and the spectrum of the content is very vast. The last blog that is of crucial scholarly value is the es issues by means of public diplomacy and policy. Therefore the Foreign Policy Association’s Blog, that covers the Middle Eastern Region in broad. This blog analyzs blog is different than the other individual blogs that I have mentioned above. The analysis of issues is deeper, based on theories that are prominent in the study of international relations. The layout is satisfying and this is one of the best blogs that I have come across.
The blogs provide thoughts and analyses of many viewpoints, however there is need for reliable, solid information that can be accessed by means of the Internet. This brings us to the websites that I have been monitoring. The first four that I would like to mention are all alike in terms of context and intention. They are prominent newspapers of Turkey. Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet, Sabah, and Turkish Daily News. Although they have a different perspective on issues, they are quite similar to one another. Their context is deep, having multiple data and sources on issues. Their structural layout and navigation is easy to follow, and they are all interactive and functional, leaving the reader to have a great overall experience. Reuters: International and CNN: Turk also provide as a good source for last minute occurrences. Overall, one should skim through these websites in order to get a comprehensive view of the event that is happening. The websites of The Center for International Relations: Middle East/ Caucasus, and The Center for Strategic and International Studies: Middle East Program provide like a search engine that may be used to research a specific event that is of crucial value. They refer to other websites that may have further resources on the topic. Therefore I found that these website were incredibly helpful to fully understand an issue.
The Middle East is a complex region, still debated by world renowned scholars. My training in the field of international relations suggest that in order to understand a region, a state, a government, it is crucial to examine the past and analyze the present in the light of that knowledge. That is why the next websites provide historical resources for analysis. The Foreign Affairs: Middle East, Middle East Progress, Eurasianet: Turkey, Middle East Times, Council on Foreign Relations: South Eastern Europe (The only website which classifies Turkey as a Eastern European State.), provide valuable resources and articles on the history of the middle eastern countries and facts about the recent governments. Their websites are very easy to navigate and their visual designs are exquisite, functioning interactively the overall experience of these are more than sufficient. The last website that I would like to mention is the Foreign Policy Institute of Turkey. This institute is one of the few think tanks focusing on Turkey’s international relations. It is more broad in context, however it is a reliable source, providing many articles from Turkish scholars. The website is not very fulfilling in terms of visual design but one has to look past that because of the shortage in Turkish based institutes.
All in all, I think that these items in my link roll will provide a guide to those who are interested in the region called the middle east and therefore will be intrigued to do exploration of their own.

Secularism: Friend or Foe

2008-09-30T00:25:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to explore the blogosphere under the theme of laicism. Laicism is a concept brought to Turkish vocabulary by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (see Figure 1), the founding father of the modern Turkish Republic. It means the state and religion should exist separately, basically it is a synonym of secularism, and this concept is the most important factor one should look for in the politics of the government in Turkey. Therefore the first blog that caught my attention, "The White Path" ,written by Mustafa Akyol, was about secularism and his clashing views with the secular thinkers of Turkey. Mustafa Akyol is a highly educated journalist, who’s views are in favor with the current government. If his motives are analyzed it is clear that he is opposed to secularism. I specifically chose this blog because it clashes with my opinions, and I think challenging oneself is a way to self improvement. The second blog I chose to comment on is called “The Istanbulian.” It is written by Emre Kizilkaya, also a journalist, who has the opposite views on the government that those of Mustafa Akyol. He is known for his bashing of the government, more specifically AKP (the ruling party, called the Justice and Development Party.) His views are more similar to my own. I think that the balance of opposing views will persuade one to analyze both sides of the debate. Although the issues of both blogs are not related in context they share the same theme; secularism. Kizilkaya’s post mentions PETA’s letter recently sent to the mayor of Istanbul, which has caused quite a stir in domestic politics due to the fact that it was very provocative.

"Turkey Is Getting More Secular, Not Religious"
Comment:
Mr Akyol,
The main ingredient of a good scholar is objectiveness, and perspective. Thus I will try my best to be a scholar of such merit while analyzing your blog post “ Turkey Is Getting More Secular, Not Religious.” However we do have contrasting argument even though the origins of thought are the same. For example we both agree that the turmoil and instability in Turkey is a major concern for both the-as you define myself-“urban secularists,” and -as I define yourself “Islamic fundamentalists.” Our common ground set the basis of argument.
This is where we differ; you think that Turkey is progressing to a more secular social stance, basing your argument on “objective” social research. I cannot locate your sources, therefore trust your argument, but I will present a few points. I respect the fact that you have analyzed the situation, and gathered data, although the accuracy and reliability is a question, on the shifting concept of religion. To one extent I do agree with you; the rural parts of Turkey have not been subject to major change since AKP has come to power. This coming from a very realistic perspective I would like to ask the reason that you, a respected author, do not bring up the major question: Why has Turkey not been able to undergo major developments and changes, without loosing the concept of national identity and Ataturk's idea of secularism? Why is secularism seen to be such a threat, when it is clear that religion in state affairs is just disrupting and corrupting the pureness of religion? I have a problem with the fact that no one who has the power, and connections to reach to an audience, does not use this as an advantage. This is also the main problem that me and my fellow "urban secularists" have.
Mr. Akyol, I agree with you that before AKP, the rural Turkey, has not been so modern, but that is the result of politicians not being able to follow the reasoning and values of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. I believe we are all to blame for this mess, and hopefully in the future we shall peacefully co-exist.
As I have stated before, objectivity is what makes a scholar. As long as you shall write, I shall read your opinions with an open mind. I know this is crucial because I also write a blog myself; http://aylinececicek.blogspot.com/.

"PETA's XXX Letter To Istanbul Mayor "
Comment:
Mr. Kizilkaya,
While reading your post titled “PETA's XXX Letter To Istanbul Mayor “ I realized that the international community is rather oblivious to the real Turkey. I would have expected PETA to be more sensible about the letter, keeping in mind that the government nowadays is quite religious. This strategy is clearly based on attention seeking, and although the message is an important one; the issue of stray animals that should be neutered, I see that the nude image of Jenna Jameson, has taken precedence over the real issue. I must say in all simplicity, their approach is not the way to resolve this issue , and PETA’s strategy is politically offending. Their approach is an indicator that PETA does not have enough information about the structure of the political mechanism that exists in Turkey. An international organization of such merit should be able to gather sufficient data and analyze the correct way to approach officials, in order to be affective.
Looking at the bigger picture, it is seen that PETA is only one of the organizations that do not know how to approach governments of countries other that the United States of America. Although there is a small fault in the government’s portrayal of identity to the international community, I think that the majority flaw is of PETA’s. However it is crucial for them to be able to change their methods in order to be affective, because their cause is clearly a good, humanitarian one. The world is in desperation for good causes that raise awareness to issues that impact everyone. Even the slightest improvement matters to those in need, and that is why I decided to write my own blog; http://aylinececicek.blogspot.com/.

New Mandate Submitted; Turkey Will Extend Stay In Iraq

2008-09-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

On Monday, September 22, 2008, the Turkish government submitted the new parliamentary motion that prologues the authorized transverse operations along the border of northern Iraq (See Figure 1). Turkey's motive in the region is to maintain a secure border and cease all terrorist activity, led by the PKK. The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet states: " The terrorist threat and attacks by outlaw PKK separatists, which took shelter in the north of Iraq, continued against peace, security,national unity and territorial integrity of Turkey." Turkey has adopted an aggressive military stance to the terrorist activities in northern Iraq for the last two years. Analyzing this motion, it is clear that they will continue with this stand.

Although the mandate was passed, there will still be discussions about the decision that was made. In a week the Turkish Parliament (TMBB), will gather once more to finalize this motion.
The most interesting observation, in the domestic level, about this issue would be that the opposition parties, CHP (Republican Peoples Party) and MHP (Nationalist Movement Party), have put their support to the motion. In the political arena there is no doubt that this motion will pass. This has been a solid demonstration that the opposition parties and the government can collectively work, in order to maximize the national interests. It is a step in the right direction, to decrease turmoil that the political arena has been in for too long.

However, in the international level, it should be considered that the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq will continue to exist, at least for another year. It is clear that the Iraqi government will have no say in this matter, considering that they are not capable of securing the borders and ceasing terrorist activity. Iraqi motives are an enigma, almost impossible to solve, in contrary to the Turkish motives, which are justified under the United Nations.