Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Winter 2015

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:40:00 GMT

Religion, religious groups and teo-politics are always most vital topics of the Western politics. The relationship between politics and religion is reciprocal. While both domestic and international political actors try to exploit religion and religious sensitivity for their political interests and gains, religion and belief systems want to use significant power over main political and cultural actors and perceptions. With the emergence of the violent non-state actors such as Taliban, al-Qaeda and DAISH, which were all surfaced in the Middle East but have become transnational actors deeply affecting European politics, and the recent popularity of far-right Islam-phobic movements such as PEGIDA in Europe have once again forced us to look closely at the relationship between religion and politics in Western politics specifically in Europe.

What Has Been Is What Will Be: The 2015 Israeli Elections and the State of Turkish-Israeli Relations

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:30:00 GMT

The most notable aspect of the 2015 Israeli parliamentary elections was that the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has entered his fourth (and third consecutive) term in office as Prime Minister. His views, his right-wing coalition, and his hesitant nature as a decision maker make it unlikely that he will push for serious peace negotiations with the Palestinians. As the quality of Turkish-Israeli relations is very much linked to the state of Israeli-Palestinian relations, a true improvement (beyond just normalization, which in itself is difficult to achieve) in Turkish-Israeli relations remains unlikely.

Responding to Religious Claims in a Secular Democracy: The Turkish Case

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:00:00 GMT

This article examines state responses to claims made by religious groups, unorthodox communities and minority religions in Turkey and argues that paradigmatic changes have taken place, especially under the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) governments since 2002. Under the AK Party governments, the conventional meaning attached to secularism gradually changed from a restrictive one to a relatively inclusive and libertarian one, as evidenced by the lifting of the headscarf ban in the public sphere. Currently, responding to the claims of unorthodox and non-Muslim communities has become part of the social fabric of Turkey, although room for improvement remains.

When Foreign Policy Matters: The Gülen Movement’s Fight with the AK Party over Iran

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:49:00 GMT

It is widely accepted that identities are stable and they are one of the main motivations for alliance formations. The recent political rivalry between the AK Party and the Gülen movement, however, provides a rich case for those who claim the contrary. This article is a bold attempt to explain the role of power relations in this political rivalry with a special focus on the AK Party’s relations with Iran. Having discussed why identity and interest are not determining factors in the Gülen movement’s vehement opposition to the AK Party’s relations with Iran, the article argues that it is the power struggle between the party and the movement that largely shapes the latter’s imagination of the current Turkish-Iranian relations.

War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Syria

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:20:00 GMT

This article evaluates the civil war in Syria from a human rights perspective from March 2011 until this article went to press. I tried to evaluate the gross human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity that were committed by different groups in Syria, including the regime, the rebels, DAISH, and others.

The Blue Peace: Achieving Peace and Security through Water Cooperation

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:13:00 GMT

Water is about people and human security. Unfortunately water has become a source of conflicts around the world, especially in the Middle East. There is a critical need for active water cooperation between nations in the region. This article discusses possible ways to achieve such cooperation, using tools developed under the Blue Peace concept. The article highlights a positive example of concrete steps taken by Turkey and Iraq in the area of track-two hydro diplomacy, which could potentially expand to other countries in the region. Experiences from around the world demonstrate that sustainable active water cooperation is possible and there are many examples that could be adapted by countries in the Middle East.

President Obama’s Middle East Policy, 2009-2013

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 14:10:00 GMT

President Barack Obama won the 2008 US presidential race with promises to restore America’s lost image and status in the world, to lead the world again to achieve peace and dignity, and to start a “new beginning” with Muslims worldwide. This article examines Obama’s promised “new beginning” with Muslims in the Middle East and assesses his Middle East policy to determine whether his policy marks a break from the previous George W. Bush administration’s Mideast policy. First, it presents a comparative discussion on Bush’s and Obama’s Mideast policies and then turns to analyze a series of important issues that critically affects US-Mideast relations. It concludes that in the last five years (2009-2013) President Obama has, at best, achieved a mixed record –in some cases his approach has produced positive outcomes, in other cases, his policy is more a continuation of George W. Bush’s policy.

Religion and Religious Communities in the EU Legal System

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:31:00 GMT

This article considers the different components of the “acquis communautaire” in the matter of religion. The “acquis communautaire” is the set of values, principles and rights that a state has to accept before becoming a member of the EU. EU legal provisions, European Court of Justice (ECJ) decisions and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rules are part of this “acquis”, together with the constitutional traditions of the member states. The chapter dwells on this last component, arguing that there is a European model of state-religions relations that is reflected in the constitutional traditions of the EU member states. Whether this “acquis communautaire” is able to face the challenges raised by the growing religious diversity in the EU is discussed in the last part of the chapter.

State and Religion in Great Britain: Constitutional Foundations, Religious Minorities, the Law and Education

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 14:50:00 GMT

This article examines the relationship between the State and religion in Great Britain. After summarizing the key features of the constitution of the UK and discussing the evolving relations between Church and State, the article describes the religious landscape both in general and in terms of minority religious groups, focusing on Muslims (the second largest religious group in Britain after Christians). The main features of British law pertaining to religion are then discussed, followed by an assessment of the impact of religion on education in terms of the ownership and management of schools, religious education and religious worship. The concluding section reflects on the main debates and controversies.

Religion and State in Belgium

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 14:40:00 GMT

This article focuses on the complex question of state-religion relations in Belgium and examines definition of laicism/secularism in the constitutional or juridical texts to show the main characteristics of official discourses. It also looks at how the state manages religious institutions and education in a secular context with reference to public funding and curriculum issues. This article comes to a conclusion by analysing the position of Islam and Muslims in Belgium.

Religion and Law in the Netherlands

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 14:30:00 GMT

Religion remains an influential force in our time despite the prophesy of secularization theory which argued that religion will fade away. In the context of migration this expectation hardly came through even in Europe where secularization is deeply rooted because presence of Muslim and other faith groups poses many challenges. This article examines the trajectory of state-religion relations in the Netherlands and looks at impact on Muslims in this country.

Churches and Religious Communities in Poland with Particular Focus on the Situation of Muslim Communities

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 14:22:00 GMT

This article examines complex relations between the state and churches as well as religious communities as defined in the Constitution of Poland (1997), in the Concordat with the Holy See (1993), in the statute on the guarantees of freedom of conscience and religion (1989) and in the separate statutes on relations between the State and a given denomination. This article also looks at the legal situation of the Muslim Community in Poland mainly comprised of the Tartars, who settled in Poland centuries ago (between 14th and 17th century) who have a separate statute dating back to 1936, and the new Muslim immigration who have formed their associations under the general statute dated 1989.

Turkey’s Stance towards the Main Developments in the South Caucasus

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

This article aims to elaborate on Turkey’s stance towards the main developments in the South Caucasus after the rise of the AK Party in 2002. The main focus of this article is to delineate the impact of Turkey’s new foreign policy on the country’s approach towards regional developments. Turkey’s ambition to become a key energy hub influences its sensitive and strategic conception of this energy-rich region. Turkey’s “zero problems with neighbors” policy has proven to be an underlying principle, giving shape to Turkey’s attempts to support regional pluralism and contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region through economic interdependence. The aim of Turkey is to achieve its political goal of enjoying a peaceful neighboring region, and its ultimate vision of becoming a key energy hub. However, the “zero problems” ideal has faced challenges, which are underlined as the main factors currently influencing Turkey’s policies and behavior in the region.

Women’s Voices Across the World for Justice

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:34:00 GMT

The three books reviewed here focus on one of the most prevalent forms of discrimination: Gender Injustice. Everywhere in the world women tend to suffer from gender discrimination more than men, regardless of ethnicity, class, or religion1 and gender disparities vary widely making women more vulnerable to poverty, abuse, or political marginalization. Compared to men, women and girls receive less education, remain underrepresented, face difficulties in accessing health and judicial services. Futher, they are exposed to all kinds of violence and unequal standings in society. This inequality makes gender justice a morally and politically urgent topic. Although the majority of countries in the world legally and rhetorically institutionalize and support women’s rights, the political will to fight against gender inequality is usually absent. Thus, women become victims of discriminatory social and cultural norms as well as conservative mind-sets, policies, laws and institutions.

The Making of the Arab Intellectual Empire, Public Sphere and the Colonial Coordinates of Selfhood

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:10:00 GMT

History of Arab intellectuals has received a renewed academic attention after the Arab world demonstrated its ability to go through the democratization process without it being imposed from outside. The Arab public sphere is still not a theme much researched in Middle Eastern scholarship. This volume is an effort to re-read history of Arab intellectuals within the theory of the public sphere. Dyala Hamza and contributors have tried to look beyond Albert Hourani’s thesis and have produced this insightful analytical account of Arab intellectuals during the Ottoman and colonial period.

Japan’s Foreign Aid to Africa Angola and Mozambique within the TICAD Process

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:10:00 GMT

Pedro Amakasu Raposo’s Japan’s Foreign Aid to Africa was published exactly at the right time when this subject is receiving remarkable attention not only from inside but also outside Japan. On January 2014, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire and Mozambique with the Japanese private companies’ delegation. This visit marked the new era of Japan’s foreign policy towards Africa, as discussed later in this review.

Prospect Theory and Foreign Policy Analysis in the Asia Pacific Rational Leaders and Risky Behavior

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:10:00 GMT

Theory, or the principles that help one organise, understand and interpret facts in a better manner, is the central pillar around which any scientifically premised field of research is developed. Credibility of the field of international relations, as an independent and scientific field of research, is based on its theoretical underpinnings. Even then, international relations theory is constantly under the process of refinement as it remains a discursive science despite claims of objectivity. Kai He and Huiyun Feng attempt the same in their book entitled, “Prospect Theory and Foreign Policy Analysis in the Asia Pacific.” They study and fill in the gaps in this neoclassical realist interpretation of state behaviour by applying prospect theory, which is originally rooted in the field of Psychology.

Turkish-Greek Relations Rapprochement, Civil Society and the Politics of Friendship

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:10:00 GMT

Leonidas Karakatsanis’ book looks at the reconciliation efforts between Turkey and Greece which, according to the author, resemble a pendulum that repeatedly swings between two extremes of enmity and friendship. The book is an expanded and updated version of a Ph.D. dissertation written at the University of Essex’s Ideology and Discourse Analysis Program. It relies heavily on scholars like Derrida, Schmitt, Laclau, and Mouffe. The book focuses on diverse initiatives intended to promote the Turkish-Greek friendship in the post-1974 era. The author uses the term “floating signifier” to describe the existence of a diverse set of groups with the broader aim of friendship. It is the friendship discourse, which is analyzed by examining meanings attached to the language, signs, images, representational practices, and bodily encounters.

Visions of the Ottoman World in Renaissance Europe

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:10:00 GMT

Over the past three decades, Ottoman studies continues to be enriched by new topics and methodologies, revising old nationalistic historiography that saw the Turkish nation as the sole owner of Ottoman history. Today, apart from Turkey, scholars from all over the world are integrating Ottoman studies into a larger global history.

Islamophobia in America: The Anatomy of Intolerance

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:34:00 GMT

This edited volume is a collection of essays dealing with the issue of Islamophobia in the United States from various perspectives, such as race relations, gender, state, and history. There are five chapters preceded by an introduction by Ernst, welcoming the reader and briefly mentioning each chapter’s lined up.

The Young Atatürk: From Ottoman Soldier to Statesman of Turkey

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:34:00 GMT

In The Young Atatürk, George Gawrych examines the intellectual development of Mustafa Kemal as a soldier, and looks at how he applied what he had learned about soldiering to the problems of statesmanship. He traces Mustafa Kemal’s intellectual development primarily through his own writings. With access to Atatürk’s personal notebooks, in addition to his published writings, as well as drawing on a vast array of other primary sources and secondary literature, Gawrych is able to follow the ideas Mustafa Kemal was exposed to in his classes and in his personal readings, and see which of those ideas are adopted and expanded upon. Rather than a biography of Atatürk, this is an examination of his characteristics as a leader, explicated through his intellectual journey. Gawrych focuses on three concepts, which he argues were central to Atatürk’s philosophy of life and of leadership: “his, dimağ, and vicdan”, which he translates as feeling/sentiment, mind (cognitive activities), and conscience (pp. xii-xiii). Previous analyses of Atatürk’s leadership, he argues, have focused almost exclusively on the intellectual component, which is too narrow to explain Atatürk’s successes.

Religious Conversions in the Mediterranean World

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:34:00 GMT

Religious Conversions in the Mediterranean World is an edited volume focusing on a neglected issue within the social sciences, at least until very recently. Conversion was usually studied under the prism of history, especially in times of religious turbulence and conflicts (e.g. the expansion of Islam, the Reformation, the Ottoman Occupation, etc.) and mainly under its collective form. However, from the collective conversions of previous centuries we have been witnessing new types of conversions, especially from the ‘60s onwards; an observation that is underlined in the conclusions of the book (p. 176).

Controversies in Contemporary Islam

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:01:00 GMT

This book is structured in terms of a number of issues that are controversial among Muslims or between Muslims and others. It is based on the proposition, as the author tells us in the “Introduction”, that religions are not based on commonly accepted principles that define them but on “the arguments and disagreements which rage throughout the religion and which represent the parameters of what people believe.” Each of the fourteen chapters focuses on a particular topic of controversy, such as leadership of the community, God, nationalism, economics, morality, and Sufism.

Mûsiki İnkılâbı’nın Sosyolojisi: Klasik Türk Müziği Geleneğinde Süreklilik ve Değişim

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:47:00 GMT

There is a recent growing interest in Ottoman/Turkish music, fostering new research initiatives in the field based on different approaches, definitions, and interpretations. Güneş Ayas’s book, Mûsiki İnkılâbı’nın Sosyolojisi: Klasik Türk Müziği Geleneğinde Süreklilik ve Değişim [The Sociology of the Music Revolution: Continuity and Change in Classical Turkish Music’s Tradition], is an important and interesting contribution to the growing literature on Ottoman/Turkish music culture. The book, which is based on the Ph.D. Dissertation of the author, submitted to the Department of Sociology at İstanbul University in 2013, attentively pieces the historical events together and thus reconstructs a very critical period, from the late Ottoman Empire to the 1950s in Turkey, for Ottoman/Turkish music within a new perspective.