Nevşin Mengü

author@duvarenglish.com
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What is this talk of a post-Erdogan era? Although there is time before Turkey’s next elections, political analysts are already busy speculating about a post-Erdoğan era. Hulusi Akar being seen as a potential ‘unifying’ leader sounds very Sisi-like. The AKP has founded its power on securitarian policies, now it seems the party cannot exist without it.
A celebration amid Islamist pressure This summer, many Turks had their eyes glued onto their TV screens. Turkey’s National Women’s Volleyball team competed in the Olympics and in the European Championships. here was something special about the women’s team for they embodied the westernized side of Turkey. They were the celebration of free, strong women, who continue to prevail despite years of Islamist pressures. A moderate Taliban for you There is a new mission in Afghanistan to engage with and normalize the Taliban and push them to be moderate. A Taliban spokesperson told last week that women should stay at home as a ‘temporary measure’ because their security forces are not trained ‘how to deal with women.’ This calls to mind the historic normalization of repressive theocratic states, despite their treatment of women.
Wildfires and AKP's obsession with social media hashtags The first reflex of Turkey’s current government has been to gag any open and transparent public communication about any crisis the country has faced in recent years. Ensuring that the perception of immaculate and infallible image is maintained has turned into its prime strategic goal. The witch hunt to find foreign funds in Turkey Last week there began a witch hunt by media outlets, politicians, and social media users across the political spectrum against journalists, including myself, supposedly receiving ‘foreign funds.’ This latest wave of shallow nationalist and isolationist sentiments reflect an ongoing trend in Turkey. There is still strong suspicion and resentment towards the West and Western institutions across the Turkish political spectrum. The removal of Boğaziçi’s appointed rector Erdoğan’s removal of his appointed rector to Boğaziçi University after months of protests signals a win for students and academicians, but tougher days are still to come. It is likely Erdoğan will appoint someone harsher because he is not seeking compromise. He wants total control, but he is losing his grip. The feeling of solidarity and strength around Erdoğan is fading away. The last mega project of the latest sultan Kanal Istanbul, an alternative manmade Bosphorus is Erdoğan's last mega project. Allegedly, Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II first dreamt of building such a canal. Now, it seems Erdoğan wants to be the ‘sultan’ to complete the project. However, the opposition believes the project will bring massive debt to Turkey as well as be an environmental disaster. A new Turkish government could easily claim that Kanal Istanbul is Erdoğan’s pet project, and he should pay for it himself. A new kind of nationalist opposition for Turkey   Meral Akşener’s ascent to the top leadership position of a political party is a story worth telling. She has been successful in creating a new model of the Turkish center-right and a new type of moderate nationalism. Thus, she has become not only the standard of a proud Turk who promotes internationalist and pro-Western integration of Turkey, but a political challenger and concern for the ruling coalition. Sedat Peker as the ‘black box’ of AKP Turkey’s recent info-entertainment explosion, via the videos of Sedat Peker, have revealed several ‘secrets’ regarding the media in Turkey, including government sanctioned intimidation and building raids. Peker is no hero; on the contrary, he is a villain. He shows us how evil is built into the system. When state propaganda turns on itself Erdoğan government’s propaganda, depicted as being led by a group of patriots, has helped legitimize much of the criminal work of some of the members of these informal governing circles. Everything has been permitted for a small group of ‘chosen ones'. However, the propaganda machine did not prepare for the possibility that one of the chosen ones might turns against the system and begin using the same propaganda against them. A refutable lockdown Once it became apparent that the Turkish government was concealing COVID-19 statistics and leaving small businesses out to dry, the magic of the executive decision-making system vanished. Turks usually abide by the rules, but in this most recent lockdown, it seems they are no longer willing to cooperate. People seem to be fed up with the obfuscation of statistics, the illusion of government support, and being asked to bear the burden of the pandemic alone. The rise of Turkish tourism state Turkey will be under full lockdown until May 17. In some senses, it is very strict; in some senses, not. Workers are off to work every morning. Supermarkets are open. Life continues, but no one can spend time outside. However, tourists are exempt from such measures. They can wander around, take a jog in the park, go to museums, swim in the seas. This is what we mean by a ‘tourism state.’ AKP bans alcohol sales to ‘curb pandemic’ There is currently a surge in COVID-19 cases in Turkey. The situation is almost out of control. The health minister admitted that China was not delivering the vaccines it had promised. However, banning alcohol has almost no effect in curbing pandemics. The AKP government is prioritizing imposing conservative values in the guise of curbing the pandemic. Compatibility of the Turkish opposition Within Turkey, it is not easy for the opposition to get their message across to the public. However, a recent media campaign by the CHP that has been successful is its relentless asking ‘where did 128 billion dollars disappear’ from Central Bank reserves. The question gained traction among the Turkish public and is an example of the diverse opposition front rallying behind a unified message. But it remains to be seen if it will be easy for the opposition to remain unified. The rise and fall of Turkey’s Young Erdoganists In today's Turkey, you may often come across young privileged Erdoğanists who are ready to lecture everyone about how important Islam and traditional Turkish values are, but behind closed doors, they lead very different lives. They consume alcohol and drugs. They have sex with people of the opposite and same sex. They represent a new generation of political Islamists who feed the authoritarian system by preaching its proclaimed values while enjoying all the freedoms money can buy. Proclamations of Turkish superiority at the AKP congress Erdoğan promised to release a new party manifesto at the recent AKP congress. It was far from exciting. One thing, however, did grab my attention: He spoke about how the time was coming for Turkey to lead civilization, underlining why the preservation of family unit is very important for Turkey. Such ideas are not new. This idea of divinely-given Turkish superiority is fed to the public 24/7. Techno-nationalism: AKP’s secret weapon Recently, the Turkish government has adopted a discourse surrounding technological advancements, such a potential space program, to drum up nationalistic unity. It seems to be working, especially among young people. Thus, the ruling alliance of AKP and MHP will likely continue to use this new form of techno-nationalism to rally people around the flag, and it appears they may do so effectively. Is there a rift between the AKP and MHP? One week after Erdoğan outlined a new human rights action plan, a journalist was attacked in front of a TV network he works at, and he is not alone. Journalists have been attacked that have recently been critical of the MHP. While the MHP denied responsibility, members made comments supporting violence. As the AKP tries to present an image of a changing Turkey, the MHP is pushing in the opposite direction. Does this mean there is a rift between the AKP and MHP? You must read between the lines. A significant detail in US lawmakers' Turkey letter There is a recent letter from the U.S. Congress calling on Biden to put pressure on Turkey regarding human rights issues. The letter references a period of time ‘two decades’ ago, which signifies how perceptions of the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases have changed. Back then it was perceived by U.S. politicians as a move to strengthen Turkish democracy. Is Boğaziçi a turning point? Boğaziçi University students’ resistance against the Erdoğan-appointed rector, just might be a turning point. The students and academicians have managed to keep their demands simple and their efforts sustained. It will be a long road ahead for the students and academicians. Erdoğan will not back down tomorrow. But MHP head Bahçeli’s recent statements indicate that they are making waves. If you are starving or unemployed, don’t say it out loud During the early years of President Erdoğan’s rule you could clearly see that he was at his most comfortable while wandering the streets talking to the crowds. Yet now he is hardly able to communicate with his voters. The latest incident happened when a middle-aged woman approached him saying, “I am starving.” To which he said nothing. Communicating with Erdoğan has become the privilege of only a select few in Turkey. History repeats itself for Turkey’s LGBTI+ community After Turkey’s 1980 coup discrimination against prominent LGBTI+ figures such as Zeki Müren and Bülent Ersoy was rampant. Anti-LGBTI+ sentiment has surfaced most recently with the Boğaziçi Protests. LGBTI+ flags carried by protesters became the target of government criticism and basis for discrimination. Can Clubhouse mend Turkish politics? The new social media chatting application Clubhouse has become the talk of the town, quite literally. And something interesting is happening among its Turkish users. In some rooms, those close to the ruling parties and the opposition have come together. Speakers from different political factions criticize each other, but do so respectfully. How China’s influence flipped Turkey’s position on Uighurs Uighurs in Turkey are having many sleepless nights. The rumor among well-informed circles is that in return for COVID-19 vaccines from China and additional economic deals, Turkey agreed to flip its Uighur policy, deny these people refuge, and send many of them back to China. A political stress test: U.S. and Turkey For many in Turkey, seeing the U.S. Capitol building being stormed by a disillusioned mob conjured memories of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt. Although both events were the result of different political and societal dynamics, both induced a similar shock to the country and had the potential to carry similar consequences for the society and the system. Why do the Turks not want democracy? A recent poll by Kadir Has University demonstrated that 40 percent of Turks did not believe democracy was the best system of governance. 45,8 percent believed a strongman rule without any elections or a parliament was the best political system. Almost 32 percent believed it is best to be governed by a religious leader. 30 percent believed it is best to be ruled by the army.  The shortest-lived TV project in Turkish history There were 180 people working for Olay TV. Now most of them, as always happens with those who want to pursue journalism in Turkey, are afraid for their future. Because on Dec. 25, only 26 days after their launch, the channel announced that it would be shutting down. Olay TV has become yet another example of how, within the realm of Turkey’s public discourse, accusations are accepted as evidence and, to put it in military terms, no plane survives first contact with the enemy. Iran's intelligence operations on Turkish soil While Iran's intelligence services have long used Turkey as a playground to eliminate dissidents, the recent kidnapping of Habib Chaab in Istanbul is testing Ankara's limits. While a visa-free regime between Turkey and Iran has made it easier for Iranian dissidents to come here, the Iranian secret services have also benefited from it.  Crime is no gamble for new branch of Turkey’s Iranian diaspora   Turkey has long been a refuge for Iranians who oppose their country’s regime. But recent claims have immerged that Istanbul has become a hub for Iranian money laundering schemes via online gambling. Now, we begin to look at whether this new branch of the Iranian diaspora enjoys conspicuous protection not only from the Iranian regime, but from Turkish prosecution. The pandemic might teach Turkish men something As President Erdoğan announced new pandemic measures, I thought to myself: what does one do outside between those hours anyway? Then I thought: perhaps I’m thinking this because I’m a woman who doesn’t feel sufficiently safe in the street.