In Turkey political opinions are generally centered on problems, complaints and reactions.

A constant uncertainty with regard to the future provided the fuel for such a situation. As concerns grow so do “problem-centric perceptions.”

Looked at from this angle we are faced with two major issues…

These issues that are fueled by concerns regarding the future at the same time also fuel concerns about the future and thereby create a vicious circle…

The first of these issues is related to politics and the state, while the second is related to society…

A structure that is focused on centralization and intervention, along with a warped political authority-political responsibility mechanism take their place amongst the known structural problems. Under these circumstances it doesn’t come as a surprise that the state and politics end up becoming a party to the issue rather than being the arbitrator. It is inevitable that any state or politics with such a mindset will create as many problems as it solves, and will resort to authoritarian measures to manage societal change and society.

Let’s move on to the second issue…

This issue has its roots in the tensions that arise between various societal segments.

We have not completed the integration process and view and perceive the world as made up of communities. It is an open secret that due to this perception we are a society comprised of secular, religious, ethnic, political and economic communities. The communicational ruptures in society between various segments and societal groups lead to distress…

Without doubt this situation leads to societal and structural weakness. However, the fundamental problem is how this weakness translates into the various inputs and political decisions taken in response to the pressure for change. It is within this framework that society from time to time is faced with serious crises connected to societal integration.

Political values like conservative and republican, pious and secular, which are all founded on a mindset that seeks isolation and homogenous individuals, cannot respond to societal demands for the coexisting of various identities and the balancing of differences.

It is due to this that the criticisms directed at the ruling party these days is partially comprised of a white Turk reaction that is opposed to efforts that seek to allow various identities to coexist and to balance differences, rather than being merely criticisms of authoritarian measures.

A similar picture exists when it comes to the conservative segment. Attitudes and analyses focused on identity and victimization are an example of this.

The reaction to this occurs in following manner.

Those with a Kurdish identity, secular identity, Islamic identity, or Alevi identity, do not limit themselves to just creating a situation or problem for the state. At the same time they start becoming a problem for each other… 

They too will fuel concerns about the future to the extent that they are fuelled by concerns for the future…

The fundamental reason behind concern for the future and a societal lack of trust in neighbors is the lack of politics in the name of politics. This indicates a mistrust of politics…

It is this concern that produces the type of persons, who emerge as a result of the actions of those who through their burning desire to attain power and a reliance on analyses obsessed with power basically reduce the country’s issues to just political power, and even more so, to just a political leader, and look to ensure that the hegemony of politics over society grows not just through political power but also through the civilian arena.

These persons, (according to some they are the backers of the ruling party, and according to others they are the oath-bound white opposition) which are the product of mistrust and find themselves stuck between cheers and curses, are so homogenous when it comes to the levels at which they generate even more mistrust, and when it comes to how out of touch they are with society and being able to understand society due to their obsession with power…

It is a problem that cannot be taken lightly at all and will need a lot of effort to overcome.