Mass rebellion in Turkey. The shocking
scenes of constant running battles in Ankara and across Turkey between rioters
have captured the world's attention. However, this is not mindless thuggery
carried out by disenfranchised youths; rather it is a very meaningful political
and even spiritual statement.
It is rather ironic that these riots have
occurred in Turkey, a nation that has been known for being somewhat of a bridge
between the east and the west. The Middle East has traditionally become
synonymous with religious conflict, while the Far East and Russia have tended
to lose its religious edge over the past century with communism and religious
persecution being at the centre of many disputes in this tumultuous region. The
west, especially Western Europe, on the other hand is slowly beginning to
distance itself from religion too. Although Americans still quote lines such as
"one nation under God", many youths in America are leaning towards
atheism, a belief, or lack thereof, which has barely entered the Middle East.
Yet the incidents in Turkey over the past couple of weeks have shown a
rejection of traditionalist Islamic beliefs among large numbers of youths in
the country, hinting at signs of an upcoming revolt against beliefs which have
remained such a key and undisputed factor in Middle Eastern society for oh so
many years.
However, quite the opposite is happening in
Syria, where the protesters, or “rebels” as they are being referred to, are
desperate to see Syria become a more Islamic state, with President Assad himself
rejecting this. Of course all this upheaval is causing a moral dilemma for the
likes of America, Germany, the UK and France, who all want to end Assad’s
destructive reign, but Russian President Vladimir Putin, is fearful that this
will give way for more radicalisation in the region, views that he reiterated at
this week’s G20 summit in Northern Ireland.
Of course, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan is by no means a dictator, but some say he is an authoritarian
that is beginning to put his own desires above the wants of his people. Turkey
is a country that many visit due to its unique culture and desirable climate,
but images of tear gas and rubber bullets being fired in city centres will do
no good to the country’s reputation.
Another factor which may worry Prime
Minister Erdoğan is the clear support of the protesters by the everyday folks.
Recent images show locals aggressively pounding pots and pans while looking at
the violent scenes outside their windows. Meanwhile, Erdoğan’s speech at a
party rally attended by many of his supporters suggests he shall go ahead with
his changes for a more conservative state despite the fierce opposition by
some. The crowd seemed a little apprehensive however, possibly hinting that
although they want these changes, they too have been taken aback by the
protests, and are not sure if Erdoğan is dealing with the situation well
enough.
When the topic of globalisation comes up,
many naturally think of the consequences for the West. Better understanding and
more opposition to various things are the two main factors given. In Turkey,
young people use the internet freely and can therefore look at examples of
other countries and desire a certain lifestyle, so with these new concepts
being shared, it is understandable why there may be rebellion to the
proposition of a more conservative state.
With many of the protesters being or
appearing to be relatively young, what may worry the conservatives in Turkish
society is what the future will hold. Will this anti-authoritarian rhetoric
force remain for the foreseeable future and eventually drive Erdoğan out of
office or is it just a phase in an attempt to try something different. Some
would say all people are able to rebel for a while and this is just part of
that. However, the determination being displayed by so many of these protesters
and the attention to the issue they have brought to the international community
suggests that this is an issue that is here to stay.
Both the Eastern and Western worlds are changing
rapidly, multiculturalism and empowerment of newly liberated peoples (such as
in Egypt and potentially Syria) bring about positive changes, yet new,
challenging and emotional issues. What is similar between Turkey and Syria is
the level of dedication and determination shown by the largely relatively young,
in order to bring about change in their respective lands.
