How islamic is islamic
Reader comment on item: Turkey's Radical Turn?

Submitted by Jonathan Lamb (Turkey), Aug 14, 2003 at 11:46

Since AKP's landslide victory last year, Turkey has been split into those who were happy about it and those who were not. For much of the electorate (65% voted for other parties) the jury is still out on AKP.

A side note about the election, Saadet Party, led by former prime minister Erbakan, got only 2% of the vote. This party is most definitely wide eyed and scary islamist.

Whilst AKP has made small moves toward a more conservative society, they stand to lose many of those who voted for them if they go too far. These are the voters who traditionally voted for concervative parties like MHP, ANAP & DYP, all of whom have religious wings, without being religious parties (Think republican). AKP like them has a pluralities of views from hardline to moderate, including those who genuinely want to join the EU. It is still unclear as to where exactly where the party leaders stand however and the fear is that undermining the Army is simply a ploy and the EU and excuse.

The clearest critisizm of AKP is not however that they wish to create a new Iran, but rather that their whole way of thinking is so old fashioned. With no true understanding of democracy, economics and world affairs, they blunder from mistake to mistake and put Turkey's future at risk. The decision not to allow US forces to use Turkey as a launch pad was not in itself an error. Rather the manner in which it happened illustrates the incompetence of a backward thinking administration. Their support comes chiefly from small traders, and the poor whose level of sophistication is very low. This is reflected in their warped sense of priorities.

AKP is a formidible party machine, which organises well and channels money from state and municipal sources into party organisation. Previous generations of politician would have taken this money for themselves. For this reason they could be on the scene for a long time and they may well be playing a long term game.

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