[fluff]

Recent elections in Turkey have retained the AKP in government with a clear majority/mandate.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6910444.stm

Not everyone is happy though:
________________________________________________
In the run-up to the election generals had warned that the army was prepared to step in to defend Turkey's strict secular system.

The deadlock in parliament emerged when the AKP tried to nominate Abdullah Gul, a former foreign minister, for the post of president - traditionally a secular figurehead for the republic.

Opposition parties blocked Mr Gul's appointment, as well as government reforms proposing direct elections to choose a president.

Turkey's current president and its secularist establishment have vowed to resist what they regard as the Islamist agenda of the AK Party.

Mr Erdogan's government dismisses that portrayal, pointing to its record of five straight years of economic growth and the start of membership negotiations with the European Union.
_________________________________________________

But does it illustrate that Islamic-based government does not have to be feared, rather that our approach is creating more problems than it solves, or is Turkey so different from any other Islamic country?

 

[$tinkle]

turkey has much appeal as a cinderella story all culminating to all-but-certain acceptance into the EU. of course, the "success" of the AKP is subjective: for islamists, it's sharia as the law of the land; for moderates, the barometer for success is something that may be similar to (but not modeled after), the u.s.

so what do you think is going on at the iraq border? are they anticipating a refugee crisis, or are they sending a message to would-be iraq gov't destabilizers?

 

[$tinkle]

afterthought: not sure what this means for turkey vis-a-vis EU membership, but i think they'll have their work cut out for them in meeting the copenhagen criteria, especially human (women's) rights. i'd like to be wrong about that.

 

[luelling]

I haven't heard, has the US condemed it yet as a step in the wrong direction?

 

[LordOpie]

I'm confused, is that saying that the people of Turkey voted in a religious govt, but the military refuses to allow that?

 

[MikeD]

I'm confused, is that saying that the people of Turkey voted in a religious govt, but the military refuses to allow that?

I haven't read the article specifically, but that's the situation in a nutshell.

 

[LordOpie]

well, the military can go fvck itself.

*IF* the election was legitimate, then the people have spoken.

 

[MikeD]

Well, the military sees itself as protecting the legal form of Turkish gov't; there's a post-Ottman history, starting with Attaturk, of proud secularism and modern, moderate religion. So they basically think that no popular election which attacks this tradition and moves towards installing Shari'a is legitimate...

Edit: Not to say I agree entirely, but I sure hope if an election here brings in a government which is outright trying to make all schools Christian and bring wife-beating back to public squares, I sure hope some of us wouldn't just say, "Well, that's democracy for ya..."

 

[Silver]

The only problem is that when you refer to the secular Turks, you really do need to mention a very nasty nationalist streak at work there...

 

[LordOpie]

Well, the military sees itself as protecting the legal form of Turkish gov't; there's a post-Ottman history, starting with Attaturk, of proud secularism and modern, moderate religion. So they basically think that no popular election which attacks this tradition and moves towards installing Shari'a is legitimate...

Edit: Not to say I agree entirely, but I sure hope if an election here brings in a government which is outright trying to make all schools Christian and bring wife-beating back to public squares, I sure hope some of us wouldn't just say, "Well, that's democracy for ya..."

good point.

 

[MikeD]

The only problem is that when you refer to the secular Turks, you really do need to mention a very nasty nationalist streak at work there...

What, are you a Kurd or something? Sheesh.

 

[fluff]

What, are you a Kurd or something? Sheesh.

Maybe Armenian. Just don't mention the genocide.

And just to be clear, the AKP (which is the Islamic party in question) was already in government before the election. They've been re-elected with a larger majority.

The recent threats from the military came from the fear that the AKP would install an Islamist President and then start to change the constitution. The military do indeed see themselves as the guardians of secularism and in Turkey it is a crime to insult Attaturk (which translates as Father Turk (original name Mustafa Kemal)).

 

[DaveW]

well, the military can go fvck itself.

*IF* the election was legitimate, then the people have spoken.

Just like Hamas and Palestine.

 

[fluff]

Not to mention Algeria.

Perhaps democracy is overrated?

 

[DaveW]

Not to mention Algeria.

Perhaps democracy is overrated?

Depends, English parliamentary or American export grade democracy?

 

[fluff]

....American weapons grade democracy?

Fixed.

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

well, the military can go fvck itself.

*IF* the election was legitimate, then the people have spoken.

democracy =/ ochlocracy