Last August, one month after the failed so-called coup attempt in Turkey, I posted an article about the dangers that Erdogan and his policy pose and how those facts are affecting negatively the interests of Western nations in the region.
Some of the comments on this post were (quoted as they were posted ):
“Hypocrite! I am unable to understand as to why you people are frightened with a smaller DemocraticTurkey and support Anti-Govt attempts? Why don't you see Greece bail-out problems? Are you still living in crusades of the Dark Ages? Live and let live others!”
“You obviously have never lived in Turkey or dont know the past 30 to 40 years of Turkish history! its easy to sit at your dest and throw what you think on media! learn about The Turkey before and during Erdogan and you will see howmuch this country improved in both democraticly and economicly and learn about howmuch current government made Turkey a great power in middle east!!”
“this article is written by a typical crusader and fanatical Christian. After the failed attempt to throw over the Erdogan, the crusaders of USA and Europe start barking against him. come on bitches show your love for democeacy”
The comments are obviously from Erdogan’s supporters and have some common themes. One is the belief that Turkey has evolved economically during Erdogan’s administration and has been transformed to the major power of the Middle East. The other is linked to religious beliefs shaped from traditional historical stereotypes that stand for centuries.
But this is also the essence of Erdogan’s policy and this it what makes it dangerous. Manipulating emotions of a vast part of Turkish people whose faith were suppresed for almost a century by the secular state that Kemal Atatourk established with the Army as its core, Erdogan has one aim: to present the country that he is leading as a Pan-Islamic leader-nation and himself as the dominant figure of Islam. It’s a task that doesn’t sound impossible especially after the dawn of the era that started with Arab Spring and shattered many Islamic nations.
Here, I have to make a crucial note, that we have witnessed a radical change in the way that the Turkish President expresses his wishes. What made Erdogan more agressive in his speeches, in my opinion, is the total change on the relations with Russia.
Fifteen months ago Russian-Turkish relations hit a low and tension rose after a Russian war plane was shot down by the Turkish army on the Turkish border with Syria. At the time, world watched the two leaders and held its breath, fearing the next episode would be a warfare.
No one can be sure which was the catalyst for the abrupt shift towards improved relations between the two countries. Fear of being engaged in a mutually disastrous confrontation? Fragile domestic economic and political situations despite what each wants to project? The need of a common front against a common enemy of their interests? We may never know, but regardless the result of Russian-Turkey rapproachement was a powerful bond that wasn’t even strained by another serious incident—the murder of the Russian ambassador in Ankara—a few months later, an incident that just a few decades ago would have meant war.
The political situation in Russia and Turkey can be described as parallel and interlocking since the era of Russian Revolution and the rise of Young Turks movement after the collapse of Ottoman Empire. Let’s not forget that Turkey built its first army with equipment from Lenin’s and Stalin’s USSR. In fact, this helped avoid of tension between them in the region of their interests.
The «unholy» alliance between the two countries seems like history repeating itself. Under such conditions, Erdogan’s Turkey threw off the old mask and put on a new one with much confidence. From a Turkey following a path to the EU, he transformed Turkey into potential Pan-Islamic leader. Erdogan now views Europeans as a gang of Nazis and fascists with blood on their hands. His rhetoric makes clear that has only one purpose: laying a gravestone over Turkey-EU relations.
But Erdogan doesn’t show any intention of stopping there. From the moment that ««glue» known as the EU proved too weak an adhesive to hold Turkey, Erdogan seems to be experimenting with his power inside it. His ability to create social turbulence inside European soil, having as excuse the upcoming Turkish referendum, is a cause for concern.
In my humble opinion, this is just a rehearsal. Turkey’s real power for destabilisation is in the Balkans. It is a region where borders are still soft after the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Fermentations in the Balkans are underway and Turkey’s intervention will be a significant catalyst.
In a period in which Erdogan seems to have made peace with the only one that can cause him headaches, his evolution into a confident leader must worry Western leaders. Tayip Erdogan is the political leader who is the biggest threat not only for the stability of the region but of his country also. His statements as well as those by the Turkish foreign minister, after the Dutch elections, indicate nothing else. .
«There will be religious wars inside Europe...» Mevlut Cavusoglou
«Europe declared a Crusade against Islam...» Recep Tayyip Erdogan