Taksim a levice

Jun 10, 2013 Kemal Derviş

ISTANBUL – Parčík na Taksimském náměstí v rozpínající se metropoli Istanbul je jednou z mála zelených ploch, které v centru zůstaly. Osmadvacátého května zahájila hrstka tureckých ekologů pokojný protest proti developerskému plánu, který měl zeleň nahradit replikou vojenských kasáren z osmanské éry, nákupním centrem a byty. Přehnaně tvrdá policejní reakce však vyvolala mohutné občanské hnutí, které se rozšířilo do celé země.

Plán opětovného zastavění parku se stal spouštěcím mechanismem obrovského protestu proti tomu, co velký segment turecké veřejnosti, zejména mladí lidé, pokládá za paternalistické a autoritářské politické vedení. K rychlému růstu hnutí přispěl také rozsáhlý odpor vůči tomu, co mnozí považují za snahu oficiálních míst diktovat lidem životní styl, ale i frustrace z pociťované hospodářské nespravedlnosti.

Ačkoliv v čele protestního hnutí stáli ekologové a sekulární mládež, téměř přes noc se toto hnutí stalo pozoruhodně rozmanitým a přístupným. K demonstracím se připojili zbožní muslimové – zejména ti, kdo věří, že městský rozvoj Turecka vytvořil příliš mnoho sebeobohacování a příliš mnoho snadných majetků – i některé krajně levicové skupiny.

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E. Batur Jun 20, 2013

I also would like to thank Mr Dervis for his comments which are consistent and objective.
Turkey do not deserve to be compared with antidemocratic countries because of the recent demonstrations.
We will se that Turkish democracy will be further strenghtened after the calming down of demonstrations.
Living standards and respect to fundamental human rights in Turkey are not below than any other developed democracies of the world.
I think all the political parties-whether in the left or in the right- should consider the proposals of Mr Dervis to be able to understand the aspirations of new generations and respond their demands properly. Whoever do this who will be winner in the longterm in the political arena.
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Edward Ponderer Jun 11, 2013

Mr. Dervis analysis seems to be right on target.

It appears to be the Turkish translation of "Globalization and its Discontents" -- so prominent on the American, European, and Arab stages of recent.

Freud's "Civilization and Its Discontents," spoke to the squirming of ego under the limitations of the social contract required for civilization. But globalization is ultimate civilization, where we will be bound into mutual responsibility whether we set it up pleasantly or it comes upon us like some strangling jungle vine from a science fiction horror film. And we do struggle because our ego itself is on a rampage as never before in history. -- And of course, its the biggest egos that run governments and industry.

Whether these egos patriotically rally us round the flag, Piously tell us about what we must do for God, or supposedly speak to progress -- the moment the average person can smell power and money just acting to entrench itself, they react as they have once again in Turkey.

It will become evermore difficult to ignore this formula as whatever issue set it off is much less harmful to the powers that be than the reaction. But of course, you can also only walk on evermore delicate eggshells just so long.

Humanity needs to take a true census of itself, have a giant round table, and locally/globally harmonize itself. This before the present economics and Nature do it for us the hard way.
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Ayse Tezcan Jun 11, 2013

currently, the left in turkey seems in total disarray. they lack leadership and as in 1970s they are completely fragmented. i sense that they desperately need a leader, who has learned the lesson from 1970s and not living in fantasy land of ideology. i just watched an interview with mr erbakan. he counted 5 distict plans by which akp is planning to win the next election. i remember mr erbakan as being quite smart but i am impressed by his acumen today in assessing the situation. mr dervis: is there no qualified person be the leader of opposition? the way it looks right now, things will get worse for those who rose to the occasion defending civil liberties in turkey.
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Bahadir Kaleagasi Jun 11, 2013

Thank you very much for the visionary analysis. The Gezi events were mostly post-modern and innovative in the sense of their pacifism, cross-party nature, respect of the urban life, intensive internet and the social media use, civic discourse and the use of advanced marketing and communication tools. In this respect, these events, with their positive and negative sides, are a significant contribution to the global debate on the progress of the democracy.
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Hissam Kamal Jun 11, 2013

To admit one's own shortcomings is possible when one is in a position of strength, especially political strength, and to focus on other's shortcomings is not completely necessary from this position, even though there may be many opposition elements (domestic and external) licking their lips and taking advantage.

One may then highlight ones past achievements, achieved against great hostility, and re-affirm one's commitment to work to improve and progress correctly as a servant of the people.

In other words, realising that one has transitioned to a position of power needs a shift in approach in both communication and action.

There has been both ugly and wonderful/traditional transformation in Istanbul and other areas in Turkey (see the wonderful recent regeneration of the old ottoman areas in Ankara, an otherwise drab city), and the temptation to allow for some compromise should be resisted.
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Zsolt Hermann Jun 10, 2013

I fully agree with the ideas and analysis presented in the article.
The protests which we have been witnessing in different places of the globe, and we will likely to witness more and more have no exclusivity related to culture, religion, governance system or any characteristics.
The unsustainable constant quantitative growth economic model, and its serving social structure created social divisions, unsolvable debt burden for individuals and nations alike, increasing unemployment and other "social diseases".
It is as if the leaders and main financial, economical interest groups 'lost" the public, like a train stubbornly speeding towards some illusion of infinite profit, disconnected from the rest of the wagons.
All the present decisions, "solutions" are made, based on markets, banks with complete ignorance about the actual people.
This cannot be maintained, and will spill into explosions unless a complete attitude change starts leading to a total system change creating a socio-economic system that is suited to today's global, integral world within a closed and finite natural system.
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Ayse Tezcan Jun 10, 2013

a well-crafted and balanced analysis. i agree with your conclusion. thanks.
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