[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Turkey and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Turkey Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to turkey@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
English
Kobanê / ISIS
Rojava: A New Born Country A short documentary on the emergence of Syrian Kurdistan and the YPG militia.
Asya Abdullah: Soon We Will Give the Good News PYD Co-President Asya Abdullah gives updates about the situation in Kobanê and condemns Erdoğan’s claim that Kobanê is an Arab town.
Turkey's Obstruction of Kobani's Battle against ISIS Meysa Abdo, a commander in the YPG, describes the on-the-ground conditions in Kobanê and calls on Western countries to support the resistance and pressure Turkey to do so as well.
Western Fascination with "Badass" Kurdish Women Dilar Dirik critiques the western media coverage of Kurdish women, asserting that we should not only appreciate their fierceness but also their politics more broadly.
Erdoğan Plays "Arab Card" in Kobani Fehim Taştekin challenges Erdoğan’s characterization of Kobanê as an Arab city and examines the ethnic history of Kobanê, claiming that “[it] is one of the junctures where the tragedies of Kurds and Armenians intersected.”
The Situation in the Middle East: Win-Win or Lose-Lose? Describing Turkey’s “key role” in managing relations among Middle Eastern countries, Markar Esayan speculates that other countries are unfairly trying to “limit Turkey instead of benefiting from its potential.”
Peshmerga Soldiers Are a Friendly Force Trying to Rescue Kobaniİlnur Çevik praises the Turkish government’s approach to the various Kurdish armed forces fighting in Kobanê and its support of the peshmerga soldiers from Iraqi Kurdistan..
Can the Peshmerga Stop ISIL? Grouping PYD and ISIL together as terrorist groups, İbrahim Karagül speculates that the PKK and the PYD want the war in Kobanê to continue while Turkey and the peshmerga are working to end the war.
Fall of Aleppo Is Ankara's Real Concern Murat Yetkin says that Turkey’s decision to allow Peshmerga and FSA fighters is motivated by a desire to keep Aleppo from falling to ISIS.
Time to Face Up to Kobane Verda Özer writes that the events in Kobane have disintegrated borders in the region and changed the dynamics of the peace process in Turkey.
Spy Agency vs. Turkish Military and ISIL Lale Kemal claims that the different priorities between the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have troubled Turkey’s approach to the fight against ISIL.
Turkish Military Angered by Ankara's Peshmerga Move Semih İdiz describes the military’s frustration with the Turkish government’s decision to allow Peshmerga fighters to move through Turkish territory into Kobane.
The Middle East "Mastermind" Who Worries Erdoğan Mustafa Akyol analyzes Erdoğan’s claims about an unknown party conspiring to destabilize the Middle East and to obstruct Turkey’s role within it.
Peace and Reconciliation Process
Kurds and Their Rights Ali Bulaç examines how Islamic discourse on rights should encourage Muslims to support those in pursuit of their human rights.
Turkey's Kurdish Problem on Crash Course with the Next Elections Murat Yetkin notes that the AKP cannot compete for both Kurdish votes via the peace process and Turkish nationalist votes by rejecting Kurdish claims of belonging.
The AK Party's Take on the "Solution" Cafer Solgun asserts that the AK Party’s approach to the peace process with the PKK has only been successful in rhetorical terms.
What Does the PKK Want? Taha Özhan claims that, because the PKK thrives in environments of conflict, it has become increasingly disconnected from the desires of Kurds themselves.
A Solution and Peace, Even if It Is to Spite Them Abdülkadir Selvi compares the peace process in Turkey with the case of the UK/IRA as well as South Africa, urging the leadership to opt against continued war.
Stimulating Turkey's Three Sore Points Markar Esayan claims that, since the beginning of the peace process, some forces have attempted to cause trouble on Turkey’s three sore points: 1) secular sensitivity, 2) religious sensitivity, and 3) Kurdish-Alevi sensitivity.
Turkey's Rapprochement with the Arab Worldİhsan Aktaş says that though the west wants to support the Kurds against Turkey and the Arab world, the affirmation of the relationship between Turkey and the Arab world is best for all parties involved.
Economics of the Reconciliation Process Sadık Ünay writes that the peace process promises economic incentives for all parties involved, and that “great power meddling" is trying to interrupt its development.
Ermenek Mine Accident
Blindsided in Black Coalİbrahim Türkmen asserts that although Turkey has overcome domestic obstacles to join the world in a new era of global economics, the tragedy of the mining accident means that Turkey still has work to do.
Incapable Minister, Incapable Government Yusuf Kanlı describes the government’s insensitivity to the mining accident and its seeming inability to do anything to change the conditions that cause such disasters.
Only the AKP Is Innocent Günal Kurşun writes about the tendency of the AKP to maintain its innocence concerning the mining disasters of the past year, in spite of all evidence to the contrary.
Profit-Crazy Mine Owners Are the Culpritsİlnur Çevik claims that mine owners have been negligent of the government’s efforts to tighten regulations on the mining industry.
Is a Republic Without People Possible? Orhan Oğuz Gürbüz looks at the contradiction between the discourse of “New Turkey” and the government’s continued disenfranchisement of its population.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Don't Do Business, Mind the (Gender) Gap Emre Deliveli analyzes recent data about the lag in women’s empowerment and economic development in Turkey.
Fethullah Gülen Speaks at UN Selçuk Gültaşlı examines the discourse of a speech about peace written by Fethullah Gülen that was delivered recently at the UN, as compared with the Turkish state’s discourse about peace.
President Erdoğan Still Thinks He's Prime Minister Lale Kemal claims that Erdoğan is operating beyond the purview of his powers as President.
Why Worry about Headscarf Issue in Turkey? Barçın Yinanç analyzes the education system in the wake of the new government decree allowing girls as young as ten years old to wear the headscarf to school.
Istanbul Makes Audacious Bid to be European Green Capital 2017 In spite of the ongoing urban transformation of Istanbul, the municipal government has entered a competition to be the European Green Capital in 2017.
Turkey Finds Out One Is the Loneliest Number According to Kadri Gürsel, the Turkish government has been alienating its allies since 2009, and is now struggling to face the threat of ISIS on its own.
Is NATO Membership Shackling Turkey? Metin Turcan appraises claims that Turkey’s membership in NATO is preventing it from becoming a global actor.
Erdoğan Confronts Allies, Rivals Alike Over Syria Semih İdiz claims that the Turkish government is delusional to think it has sway in other Sunni countries because it has “painted itself into a corner by insisting on misguided policies.”
Unknown Codes of the New Alevi Initiative Yahya Bostan claims that under Prime Minister Davutoğlu, the Turkish government is mustering resources to address the grievances of Alevis.
The White House Would Be a Tiny Wing of Turkey's New Presidential Palace Ishaan Tharoor examines the extravagance of Turkey’s new Presidential Palace in Ankara in light of the transformation of the government under Erdoğan.
While the Republic Is Transforming On the ninety-first anniversary of the Turkish Republic, Etyen Mahçupyan claims that a look at Turkey’s history shows that “it is still too far from democracy.”
Longest NSC Meeting Testament to Erdoğan's Leadershipİlnur Çevik asserts that “New Turkey” under Erdoğan’s presidency is taking shape, as evidenced by the recent ten-hour long meeting of the National Security Council.
Turkish
Kobanê / ISIS
Rojava: ortak düşmandan ortak neşeye Praising the Rojava Revolution, Olcay Çelik argues that we should fight against ISIS not only because they kill innocent people but because they “threaten the kind of life we want to live, our imagination, and our joy and humor.”
Kamplardan notlar Enver Sezgin relays his observations from camps in Diyarbakır that host Yezidis who fled from ISIS brutality in Sengal and Kobane.
ABD'nin PYD açılımının boyutları Hurşid Deli analyzes US military aid to PYD, which had once been considered to be a terrorist organization by the US.
Kobanê’de tarih yazmaya devam“Kobane is a candidate for being a milestone in the history of the Middle East,” writes Nazan Üstündağ.
Ankara'nın Kobane'den daha büyük kaygısı Halep Murat Yetkin reports that Turkey’s biggest nightmare would be Aleppo after Kobane, because if ISIS attacks Aleppo, 1.5 million more Syrian refugees would cross into Turkey in one week.
Kobanê’de savaşan bir kadın gerilla anlatıyor“We are defending a democratic, secular society of Kurds, Arabs, Muslims, and Christians who all face an imminent massacre,” writes Narin Afrin, a female commander of the resistance in Kobani.
Kobane için sesler A video in which volunteers narrate why they went to Kobane.
Kobanê'de çocuk olmak A photo series titled “Being Children in Kobane.”
Ortadoğu'daki gelişmeler ve Rojava Devrimi (1)-(2)-(3) The Socialist Solidarity Platform’s conference on the Rojava Revolution, YPG resistance against ISIS, and Turkey’s approach to Rojava.
Peshmergas Cross into Kobane
Pesmerge Kobani'de, Ankara "ofsayt"ta… Cengiz Çandar argues that the opening of Turkey’s borders to Iraqi Kurdish military troops, known as Pesmerga, for the first time constitutes a historical moment.
Suruç'ta peşmergeleri beklerken Yekta Kılıç’s observations from Turkey-Syria border where Turkey’s Kurds flocked onto the streets to greet the Peshmerga convoys making their way towards Kobane.
Peşmergenin Kobanê’ye gidişini sağlayan etkenler Analyzing the reasons that led to the Peshmergas crossing into Kobane, Hüseyin Ali argues that Turkey couldn’t resist the pressure imposed on it by many actors to “open a corridor” to Kobane.
Biji Serok Obama! Amberin Zaman comments that Turkey reluctantly decided to open its border to Peshmerga troops because of US pressure.
Peşmerge IŞİD'i durdurabilir mi?İbrahim Karagul speculates that the PYD/PKK want to continue war in Kobane in order to gain military power and national support.
Em dîsa hatin Kobanê!“Peshmergas crossing into Kobane to help the YPG will constitute one of the main pillars of Kurdish national unity,” writes Özcan Kırbıyık.
Peşmergeler Kobani’de: Ne değişti? Ne değişir? (1)-(2) According to Ruşen Çakır, Kurds had the chance of developing a regional strategy, especially after getting international support, especially from the US, against ISIS.
Peace and Reconciliation Process
AKP, çözüm ve Kobanê Ahmet Özer argues that the AKP should change its foreign and domestic policy by “offering a friendly hand” to all Kurds, especially Kobanes.
Evet otoriter bir hukumetle de baris sureci yurutulur Ezgi Başaran interviews Mithat Sancar, a member of the “wise people committee,” about the peace process in the wake of the public discussion between Nuray Mert and Sırrı Süreyya Onder last week.
Altan Tan’ın örneği talihsiz oldu Cansu Çamlıbel’s interview with HDP parliamentarian Ertuğrul Kurkcu about the peace process.
AKP oyununun sonu Adil Bayram criticizes the AKP’s equating the PYD/PKK with ISIS while at the same time trying to continue peace negotiations.
Kurt sorunu her seyden once bir dil sorunudur Ahmet İnsel argues that the Kurdish question stems from the assumption that using the language of peace will necessarily means weakness, humiliation, being defeated, loss of masculinity, and loss of authority.
Oyalama politikalariyla bir yere varilmaz Sahin Alpay argues that the AKP stalls the peace process, and calls for a new constitution that would open the way for the PKK to engage in democratic, legitimate, and legal politics.
Kürtlere akıl vermenin dayanılmaz hafifliği Commenting on the discussion between Nuray Mert and Sırrı Süreyya Onder last week, Meltem Oral argues that Nuray Mert’s approach to the peace process means putting Turks’ “homework” on the Kurdish movement.
Kobanê'den sonra çözüm süreci ve AKP'nin tükenişi Aysel Tuğluk, Van independent MP, highlights that the AKP is no longer a partner in the peace and negotiation process.
Kürtler vahşidir öyle mi! Frederike Geerdink examines the hate speech created in the media against Kurds.
HDP’nin anlaşılmaz suskunluğu M. Delila questions the silence of the HPD in the wake of the AKP’s blaming of the HDP for initiating violence during the Kobane protests in Turkey.
Maalesef karamsarım, gidiş iyi değil! Hasan Cemal draws a dark picture of the future of the peace process and Turkey’s democratization in general.
Barış treni devrilirse Ali Bayramoğlu argues that the success of the peace process is contingent upon the abandonment of the use of violence by the Kurdish movement.
Çözüm sürecinde ve Kobani'de neler oluyor According to Abdulkadir Selvi, Prime Minister Davutoğlu’s statement—“We must manage psychology. Otherwise, Turkey will end up in partition”—is very important for the peace process.
CHP, Kürt sorunu ve cözüm süreci Tanju Tosun argues that the CHP does not work hard for the peace process.
Bugün hangi ‘mümkün çözüm’ü ıskalıyoruz?“Participation in a modest and equal negotiation with Öcalan is today’s possible solution; but it might not be possible tomorrow,” writes Alper Görmüş.
PKK ne yapmak istiyor? According to Oral Çalıslar, despite the PKK/KCK’s harsh condemnations of the peace process, they still point to the Öcalan as the ultimate leader to say the last words.
Republican Day, the AKP, and Democracy
Yeni devletin, ‘Erdoğan devleti’nin simgesi Ak Saray! (1)-(2) Criticizing Erdoğan’s new “White Palace,” Hasan Cemal argues that the AKP regime has transformed Turkey from military tutelage to “civilian tutelage.”
Türkiye'de demokrasi ''makul şüphe'' altında According to Ömer Taşpınar, Turkey suffers from political opportunism, increasing polarization, and the lack of democracy and inclusive citizenship.
Adını Cumhur(iyet) koyduk Examining the history of the ninety-one-year-old Republic, Oya Baydar criticizes the exclusion and denial mechanisms in Turkey.
Icerde 'demokrasi acigi', disarda 'nufuz kaybi' Cengiz Çandar reports that, according to the Wall Street Journal, Turkey suffers from “democracy deficit” inside and from “loss of power” outside.
Ermenek Mine Accident
Yeni Türkiye’nin fıtratı! Neşe Yavuz reports that just after the death of eighteen mine workers in a flooded mine in Ermenek, seventeen seasonal agricultural workers died in Isparta on their way to apple fields.
İşçi ölümlerinde dünya 3.sü olan Türkiye'de 9 ayda 1414 işçi öldü According to an ILO report, Turkey is the world’s third-highest in the rate of worker deaths with 1414 worker deaths in nine months.
Kârlı ve kanlı sektör: Kömür yerüstüne işçi yeraltına Aziz Çelik argues that subcontracting, privatization, and flexible and unsafe working conditions are the main reasons for worker deaths in mines and construction sites.
Daha cok olum izleyecegiz! Jale Özgentürk argues that there might be many more worker killings since Turkey plans to increase its share in coal from twenty-five to forty percent.
TEMA uyarmış: Konya’da kömür çıkartmak için tüm yeraltı sularını çekmek gerek Pelin Cengiz highlights that TEMA (Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats) had already warned that it would be a massacre to open a mine in Ermenek because of the abundance of natural groundwater.
Ölü işçiler ülkesinin 'iş güvenliği' meselesi Criticizing the lack of work safety in Turkey, Latif Işçen urges the government to collaborate with professionals to improve work safety and working conditions.
Kazalar ve AKP (1)-(2) Murat Belge criticizes the AKP for the high record of worker deaths under its governance.
Ölmemeyi dahi akıl edemeyen işçilerin ağır ihmali… According to Murat Sevinç, the government humiliated mine workers’ relatives by saying, “We wish you wrote a letter to warn us about bad working conditions; we would have fixed it.”
Other Pertinent Pieces
Bugün Soma yarın Yırca Mehveş Evin reports that Soma, where 301 mine workers died in May 2014, is again on the agenda with another catastrophe: expropriation and chopping of thousands of olive groves in favor of the construction of a coal power plant.
Soma’da neler oluyor? Muhammet Alkış accounts for the ongoing struggle of mine workers in Soma.
Camiye karşı mısınız? Hüseyin Sengül criticizes the use of the figure of mosque in order to legitimize the demolishing of the Validebag Grove.
Validebağ korusunun kısaltılmış tarihi Sennur Sezer presents a brief history of the Validebağ Grove.
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