It Ain’t Turkey’s Survival Only, Erdogan is Struggling Too
In a highly unsurprising manner, Turkey
and Kurds are once again at loggerheads with each other. While the
cease-fire agreement between Turkey and Kurds, specifically with the
PKK, now stands shattered to ground, there is hardly any doubt that
Erdogan regime makes virtually no difference between Kurdish freedom
fighters and ISIL terrorists. As a matter of fact, we do not have a
clear-cut definition of terrorism that might offer us a glimpse of what
Ankara considers to be “terrorism.”
Absence of definition of terrorism
notwithstanding, it is also quite strange to note Turkey attacking
Kurds—a force that has been most successful against the ISIS. If, as we
are made to believe, Turkey has been hit by the ISIS, the natural
consequence of it should have been Turkey-Kurd alliance against the
ISIS. However, what is actually happening is Turkey-Kurd war. From the
standpoint of military strategy even, it does not sound a good decision
on part of Turkey to open two fronts simultaneously; for, it might lead
to a Kurd-ISIS (temporary) alliance against Turkey, although chances of
it are minimum. Secondly, it again does not appear a sound military
strategy to fight such forces simultaneously as have sizeable assets
within Turkey to cause serious damage.
notwithstanding, it is also quite strange to note Turkey attacking
Kurds—a force that has been most successful against the ISIS. If, as we
are made to believe, Turkey has been hit by the ISIS, the natural
consequence of it should have been Turkey-Kurd alliance against the
ISIS. However, what is actually happening is Turkey-Kurd war. From the
standpoint of military strategy even, it does not sound a good decision
on part of Turkey to open two fronts simultaneously; for, it might lead
to a Kurd-ISIS (temporary) alliance against Turkey, although chances of
it are minimum. Secondly, it again does not appear a sound military
strategy to fight such forces simultaneously as have sizeable assets
within Turkey to cause serious damage.
The important question to consider here
is why has Turkey, all of a sudden, decided to battle the already
battle-hardened Kurds? The answer, perhaps, lies not in any
geo-politics, but in Turkey’s internal politics. A look at recently held
election results offers a clear answer to this question. In this
election, Erdogan`s AK Party received its first setback in a decade when
it failed to get an outright majority. And for the first time, the
Kurdish party, the HDP, received over 10pc of the vote, allowing it to
be elected to Parliament.
is why has Turkey, all of a sudden, decided to battle the already
battle-hardened Kurds? The answer, perhaps, lies not in any
geo-politics, but in Turkey’s internal politics. A look at recently held
election results offers a clear answer to this question. In this
election, Erdogan`s AK Party received its first setback in a decade when
it failed to get an outright majority. And for the first time, the
Kurdish party, the HDP, received over 10pc of the vote, allowing it to
be elected to Parliament.
The HDP’s success has left Erdogan’s
rule in a state of quandary. The success of the HDP has not only limited
Erdogan’s own political ambitions of empowering the presidency of the
country at the expense of the parliament, but the success of the HDP has
also led to a fracturing of the Turkish parliament, as currently no
party holds a majority and coalition talks between the AKP and other
have faltered.
rule in a state of quandary. The success of the HDP has not only limited
Erdogan’s own political ambitions of empowering the presidency of the
country at the expense of the parliament, but the success of the HDP has
also led to a fracturing of the Turkish parliament, as currently no
party holds a majority and coalition talks between the AKP and other
have faltered.
For Erdogan now, the important question
is how to reverse and pre-empt this possible Kurdish ascendance in
Turkey? The easiest way available, especially to a party in rule, is
perhaps to outlaw the opposition. Erdogan’s decision to fight Kurds is
most probably the recipe to prepare the ground for delegitimising and
outlawing the HDP in Turkey and thus win back his own votes to secure
his position as Turkey’s “sole” leader.
First appeared: http://journal-neo.org/2015/08/30/it-ain-t-turkey-s-survival-only-erdogan-is-struggling-too/
is how to reverse and pre-empt this possible Kurdish ascendance in
Turkey? The easiest way available, especially to a party in rule, is
perhaps to outlaw the opposition. Erdogan’s decision to fight Kurds is
most probably the recipe to prepare the ground for delegitimising and
outlawing the HDP in Turkey and thus win back his own votes to secure
his position as Turkey’s “sole” leader.
First appeared: http://journal-neo.org/2015/08/30/it-ain-t-turkey-s-survival-only-erdogan-is-struggling-too/
