The Reaction in Turkey
I'm now officially noting as significant the lack of popular reaction here to the Arab uprising. I don't know what exactly the significance is yet, but I'm sure it's worth thinking about.
I'm not doing man-in-the-street interviews (obviously, I've been sitting in front of my computer all day gripped to Al Jazeera and Twitter), but the lack of comment on Facebook among Turks is spooky. How could an event so big--and so close--inspire so little curiosity? Especially given, by contrast, the electrified response to the bloodshed on the Mavi Marmara?
I need to get out of the house and talk to people to get a better sense of this. I was disturbed when I thought Americans were not grasping just how massively significant these events are, but not entirely surprised--Egypt is, after all, quite a far-away country to most Americans. This is taking place in Turkey's backyard, in what was once the Ottoman Empire, and we are supposedly in the era of neo-Ottoman foreign policy. Usually anything that happens in the Middle East prompts enormous discussion and curiosity here.
Very odd.
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Jul '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
Could it be racism, Claire? The Ottomans certainly viewed Arabs as a lesser species.
Dec '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
Or just officially encouraged discretion? I was considering the same thing, after your grocery store posting. However, Erdogan is a HAMAS supporter. as evidenced by the flotilla nonsense. And, " ...In recent years, relations between Iran and Turkey have become stronger as the Turkish government becomes more Islamist". And Iran is acting very pleased with the situation in Egypt; I can't find a link at the moment, but earlier read that all the noises from Iran were very positive about the chaos in Egypt.
What would make HAMAS, Erdogan, and even the Iranians pleased is a confused collapse of Mubarak, followed by a MB takeover. What's good for HAMAS, Erdogan, Iran, and the MB is not good for the rest of us.
May '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
Aye, that's what I was thinking. If the Turkish government is even possibly looking for signs of a similar uprising at home, then any public statement could be misunderstood and perhaps land one in a heap of trouble. Knowing as little as I do about Turkey, I'd chalk it up to caution.
Oct '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
I've squeamish about taking Al Jazeera reporting to heart but many of those, like you, whom I respect tune in and cite them. Maybe you could work up a post on reliable sources for Middle East news? I have Ricochet in the loop, btw:)
Addition: Some good backgrounders would be helpful too: Ottoman Empire & all.
Edited on Jan 30, 2011 at 2:54pmOct '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
One common thread ran through my Muslim friends over the years. They generally have very strong feelings about events like Egypt, and will voice them strongly. But when it comes to a public, or published, venue, they will not go on the record. That is especially true if there is the possibility that their opinions will come back to them, in the person of the one about whom they are being critical.
My guess... you will get far more honest reactions from your MOS (Man on the Street) conversations than you will ever get through any media contacts.
Jul '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
After seeing a lot of statuses from Arabs and Egyptians on Facebook and paying close attention to the situation, I now earnestly hope that the Mubarak regime retains power and the protests fizzle and fail. The Muslim Brotherhood will be a disaster for the Christians in Egypt and the Jews in Israel. Islamic democracy, if it has no Ataturk or American military to crack skulls, is almost guaranteed to fail and be nothing but a one term democracy. Free elections that give us Hamas or some evil sibling.
Jul '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
I've been a little worried about you on this because I can't--from this distance and without the proper understanding of everything that's happening both in Egypt and in Turkey--figure out if this chain of events makes any kind of change-of-power in Turkey more or less likely in the near future. I suppose none of us will know until the dust has settled in Cairo but it'd be interesting to hear your thoughts.
May '10
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
Are they waiting for the other shoe to drop. (Not quite sure whose shoe that would be...)
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
I think this is probably a lesson--worth considering, anyway--about the depth of Erdogan's ideological commitment. Like most leaders in this region, he loves Arabs when they're conveniently repressed by Israelis--but in a kind of stable way, so that they can be extra-oppressed right before a major Turkish election and so that he can do something dramatic in the visuals (but not in the actual effects), to be their hero. Anything that could seriously overturn the balance of power in this region and cause genuine chaos--that would not be good for him. Not good at all. He knows it.
Re: The Reaction in Turkey
To some extent true, but if we take my Facebook friends as a sample, they're chattering their heads off about other controversial political issues today--just not this one.