Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
While we're discussing the appropriate use of the word "elite"--and the politically exploitative use of the word as an epithet--let me point out something that maddens me in almost all the reporting I read from Turkey. This piece by Christopher Torchia about the growing number of journalists on trial here is actually very good. But once again, I see the description of the situation here as "an Islamic-leaning government in a power struggle with secular elites"--not to mention the use of the phrase "hardline secularists."
I have no idea what the word "elites" is supposed to mean here. However you define it, the AKP has created its own version of it. If the word has any meaning at all, then this is a battle of elites versus elites. And the phrase "hardline secularist" has no meaning at all. The proper description is much closer to this: It's a battle between those who have exploited Kemalism to arrogate power and wealth to themselves and those who have exploited anti-Kemalism to arrogate power and wealth to themselves.
They're all elites--if they weren't ten years ago, they sure are now.
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Jul '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
Although I am not as well traveled as some, it does seem to me that most of the world's nations have political systems that line up in such a fashion. Pick a side, then do whatever you can to gather power and wealth unto yourself. Things get a little more chaotic when you have more than two sides, but it's still elites vs elites.
The Tea Party movement seems to be a populist attempt to overcome that tendency. The two elites, Liberal/Democrat vs Less-Liberal/Republican, are being challenged by a third group that seeks not to arrogate wealth and power, but to broadcast it as widely as possible. And this is based on principles that define America.
American exceptionalism is based in our founding principles: Individual liberty, equality under law, personal integrity, and reliance on e pluribus unum in the political and economic spheres. Our struggles against "elites" in this country have these areas as their battlefield. God grant that we succeed.
May '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
May Heav'n bless our sails and cannon, o three-legged hound. And our regiments in sparkling order, bayonets upon their shoulders.
I dunno, Claire. Having cut my teeth in arguments with complete moonbats, I've found those arguments don't work so much against actual real people. (Try it sometime; have an argument with an internet loon, and then translate it to a rational person; doesn't work)
These tedious pourparlers are leading to the point that my definition of "elite" has been reconsidered and sharpened. It's more correctly applied to those with disdain for their fellow humans.
I'd be quite eager to learn of such campaign slogans ("people are stupid!") as applied to the Ottoman Empire.
Jul '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
YES. CERTAINLY: It's a battle between those who have exploited Kemalism to arrogate power and wealth to themselves and those who have exploited anti-Kemalism - EXPLOITING THE GOOD WILL AND THE FRUSTRATION OF THE PIOUS WHO ALONG WITH OTHER ORDINARY TURKS, WERE OPPRESSED BY THE ELITE WHO EXPLOITED KEMALISM - to arrogate power and wealth to themselves.
I also think it is a terrible mistake to focus on the elitist elements in military and judiciary and to leave out the politicians and their financial backers when mentioning about "the elite." The real mob in Turkey have always been the politicians and their cronies - setting up the system to give them mostly unchecked powers - going all the way back to my childhood in the 1960's.
Aug '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
I think Turkey's neighbor provides the best juxtaposition of power corrupting the hardlining whatevers. - in a nutshell Rafsanjani.
Point being if not Kemalism, it will always be something. Homo homini lupus est
Oct '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
The word “elite” is a perfect example of Newspeak. An "elite" can be a very bad thing or a good thing, depending entirely on context. When used negatively against one’s adversaries it accuses them of being an oligarchy concerned only with its own interests, totally out of touch with the masses. When used positively, it connotes a dedicated cadre of the “best of the best,” guided solely by the will of the people, immune from mundane political influence.
In other words, “elite” means what the speaker or writer wants it to mean. It no longer has any objective meaning of its own.
Jul '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
Claire, the sentence you quoted seems even stranger in full:
"It's a tale of modern Turkey, a democracy with authoritarian roots, and an Islamic-leaning government in a power struggle with secular elites linked to the military and judiciary."
Is the judiciary not part of the government in Turkey? Is he just substituting "government" for the AKP?
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
Palaeologus: Claire, the sentence you quoted seems even stranger in full:
"It's a tale of modern Turkey, a democracy with authoritarian roots, and an Islamic-leaning government in a power struggle with secular elites linked to the military and judiciary."
Is the judiciary not part of the government in Turkey? Is he just substituting "government" for the AKP? · Oct 26 at 8:51am
That's a pretty common shorthand for "ruling party." But you're right, it's a strange shorthand.
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
Okan Altiparmak: YES. CERTAINLY: It's a battle between those who have exploited Kemalism to arrogate power and wealth to themselves and those who have exploited anti-Kemalism - EXPLOITING THE GOOD WILL AND THE FRUSTRATION OF THE PIOUS WHO ALONG WITH OTHER ORDINARY TURKS, WERE OPPRESSED BY THE ELITE WHO EXPLOITED KEMALISM - to arrogate power and wealth to themselves.
I also think it is a terrible mistake to focus on the elitist elements in military and judiciary and to leave out the politicians and their financial backers when mentioning about "the elite." The real mob in Turkey have always been the politicians and their cronies - setting up the system to give them mostly unchecked powers - going all the way back to my childhood in the 1960's. · Oct 26 at 7:08am
Completely agree with you Okan, but in a lower-case way. Don't worry, folks, he's not shouting, he's just Turkish--you have to shout in Turkey before anyone will even begin to listen. It can be a bit culturally confusing at first.
Aug '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
Oh, not HIM again! This gig was supposed to be EASY!
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
[Y]ou have to shout in Turkey before anyone will even begin to listen.
Do you ever get out of Istanbul? I myself never had to yell at anyone anywhere in Turkey. Or even Brazil, and that is saying a lot. Slovenia - once. I never dreamed that the one time in my life I would bellow in a foreign language, it would be in Slovene. It felt so strange. But the Ljubljana switching yard was noisy. I should give you the benefit of the doubt - maybe you live near Sirkeci or Haydarpasa.
May '10
Re: Turkey and the Use of the Word "Elite"
herb briggs: The word “elite” is a perfect example of Newspeak. An "elite" can be a very bad thing or a good thing, depending entirely on context. When used negatively against one’s adversaries it accuses them of being an oligarchy concerned only with its own interests, totally out of touch with the masses. When used positively, it connotes a dedicated cadre of the “best of the best,” guided solely by the will of the people, immune from mundane political influence.
In other words, “elite” means what the speaker or writer wants it to mean. It no longer has any objective meaning of its own. · Oct 26 at 8:19am
I'm back to banging my drum on the topic of reclaiming the real meaning of the word elite.