Turkish riots: A precedent?

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.