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The Effects of December 17, 2013 Operation on the Social, Political and Economic Basis
Written by Ali Fuat GÖKÇEThe Effects of December 17, 2013 Operation on the Social, Political and Economic Basis
The Effects of December 17, 2013 Operation on the Social, Political and Economic Basis
Abstract
While the date for local elections is approaching which will be held on 30th March 2014, an investigation was started by the Public Prosecutor on 17th December 2013. Although this investigation was seen as an initiative to wear down the government by the members of the cabinet, the opposition parties, some media groups and non-governmental organizations classified it as corruption and bribery. In this investigation, many people consist of statesman, bureaucrats, bank managers, public officials and sons of ministers were taken in custody on charges ranging from taking bribes, rigging bids on government contracts to attempting to smuggle.
There have been significant social, political and economic impacts of this corruption probes to Turkey. On the one hand, opposition parties and some media and press groups have asserted the failure of the government. However, the government has claimed that these operations were launched to overthrow themselves. After 17th December, several consequences were seen: social polarization was increased, some resignations were occurred in the ruling Justice and Development Party, BIST fell down, a sharp rise in the prices of Dollar, Euro and gold emerged, and Turkey Republic Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee increased the interest rates more than expected.
In this study, it has been examined that what kind of changes on social, economic and political basis have been brought to our country by 17th December operation.
JEL classification: H 7, Z 18, Z 19
QUO VADIS: Social Siences – ARTVIN CORUH UNIVERSITY HOPA INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SIENCES CONFERENCE
“İKTİSAT, SİYASET VE TOPLUM ÜÇGENİNDE KÜRESELLEŞMENİN YEREL DİNAMİKLERİ”
Hopa/Artvin, 15-17 October 2014
The Inconsistency of Theories on Nation and the Real Content of the Concept of Turk
Written by Hüseyin DAYIWithin this study, understandings of nation in Islamic civilization and “modern-secular” Western civilization are compared both with each other and on socio-political structures. These comparisons should be useful to know what is appropriate for Turkey.
Under the influence of the French Revolution, the “nation” became a new socio-political force in Europe. In the studies carried out to define the nation, the ideas of philosophers were used, not sociological observations. There was no consensus on any of the very different definitions produced on unrelated grounds such as race, native language and citizenship. Meanwhile, instead of accepting historical integrations, each state tried to build its own nation by choosing one of the definitions made. Thus, although they were known as “nation-states”, none of the states belonged to a clearly definable nation, and it was not possible for a state to artificially build its own nation. In the meantime, many states were fell apart, while the newly established ones faced the same danger.
On the other hand, the concept of nation in Islamic civilization has existed since the beginning and its meaning is clear. As a term found in the Qur'an, 'nation' refers to a religion and its believers. In the early periods, the common language of the “Nation of Islam” was only Arabic. In the course of time, Persian and Turkish also became common languages in different regions. Thus, the term “Turk” became the name of Muslims of different ethnic origins and different native languages who used Turkish as a common language.
Later, with the modern-secular definitions of the West, the definitions of “Turkish nation” became unclear and controversial in Turkey, and the integrity of the Turkish nation was in danger of being disintegrated.
This article is published in the first issue of ASSAM International Refereed Journal.