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UNTIL WEAPONS ARE SILENCED THERE CAN BE NO DEVELOPMENT. WAR IS THE
GREATEST ENEMY OF PROGRESS  
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Yücel Demirer
January 2, 2025
Junge Welt
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_ The increasing number of murdered women, armed civilians,
construction of ever larger prisons and violence against animals are
manifestations of "war mentality". Violence we encounter every day is
closely linked to wars we think are far away. _

Victims of the Turkish war machine. Memorial for journalists Nazim
Daştan killed by a drone in Northeast Syria und Cîhan Bilgin killed
, (Nisêbîn, 21.12.2024)

 

JW NOTE: Below are three columns by political scientist Yucel Dmirer
published in the left-wing Turkish daily _EVRENSEL_ (Universal). 
Dermirer will be a speaker at the 30th International Rosa Luxemburg
Conference on January 11, 2025.

A CALL FOR PEACE 

This past June, the Institute for Economics and Peace published a
report outlining the state of humanity in terms of peace and security
for the year 2024. The report warns that the world is at a crossroads
and that without concerted efforts, the number of major armed
conflicts will continue to rise. According to the report, wars in the
21st century are not only increasing but also changing due to advances
in military technology and growing geopolitical rivalries. Persistent
conflicts that have little prospect of pacification are, unlike
traditional wars, a direct result of this change.

The report presents grim figures: 2024 will be the fifth consecutive
year in which the peace situation has deteriorated worldwide. There
are currently 56 active armed conflicts internationally, the highest
number since World War II. These conflicts have become increasingly
internationalized: 92 countries are involved in disputes beyond their
borders. In addition, the increase in small-scale conflicts increases
the likelihood of larger wars in the future. The armed conflicts in
Ethiopia, Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, which were classified as
small-scale conflicts in 2019, are examples of how such situations can
escalate dramatically.

Turkey ranks 139th this year among the 163 countries included in the
Global Peace Index. The index measures peace and security within a
country based on factors such as the number of police and military
personnel, murder rate, prison population, civilian armament,
political instability, ongoing internal and external conflicts,
relations with neighboring countries, arms trade and level of
militarization.

Turkey's continued placement at the bottom of the rankings reflects
ongoing conflict and security problems, tensions with neighboring
countries, rising incarceration rates, increasing civilian armament
and a growing arms trade.

The data shows that the impact of war and peace on the lives of
ordinary citizens is much more direct than is commonly assumed. War
and the uncertainty it brings go beyond the television images of
distant conflicts and permeate our daily lives.

The increasing number of women murdered, the increasing arming of
civilians, the construction of ever larger prisons and violence
against animals are all manifestations of "war mentality". The
violence we encounter every day is closely linked to the wars we think
are far away from us. Despite the claims of those who benefit
economically or politically from war, the multiple effects of conflict
quickly spread to wider areas and affect those living far from the
front lines. Violence and insecurity also affect the lives of workers,
women, children and animals. Governments that use war to consolidate
their power resort to repression and violence to solve social problems
that arise in such an environment.

Military solutions ignore the root causes of conflict. Problems such
as inequality, injustice and exclusion, which underlie many conflicts,
are exacerbated in times of war. The escalation of violence
exacerbates existing problems and increases the suffering of the poor.
The "language of violence" neither solves the political, social and
economic problems underlying these conflicts nor enables them to be
resolved, but instead causes immeasurable suffering and destroys
lives.

In times of war, workers' lives become increasingly unbearable.
Governments basing their actions on security considerations, violate
fundamental rights and freedom. The state of emergency is invoked to
justify the unequal distribution of resources. The free flow of
information is curtailed, and corruption and bribery spread.

_POVERTY ACCELERATOR_

For workers whose lives have become unbearable in the shadow of war,
peace has immense significance. Today, around two billion people live
in an environment marked by violence. Conflicts and wars exacerbate
poverty, inequality and the lack of solidarity.

Only in lasting peace can the foundations of a hopeful future be laid
- secure livelihoods, robust institutions and healthy social relations
that promote well-being and happiness. Peace creates a stable and
secure environment that enables societies to focus on economic
development, social progress and prosperity. Peace prevents the loss
of life, displacement of people and destruction of infrastructure and
resources, and protects the material wealth produced by workers. In
peacetime, governments can provide resources to improve education,
health and other social services. In addition, peace facilitates
international cooperation, the exchange of ideas and joint efforts to
tackle global problems such as climate change and poverty.

Politicians who care about the well-being of workers know that only in
a peaceful environment can societies become more resilient to shocks,
disasters and disruptions. Problems and disagreements can be
effectively managed and the necessary levels of trust, cooperation and
integration achieved to adapt to the inevitable changes brought about
by the dynamics of life. This is why socialists emphasize the fight
for peace. Even in the darkest moments of chauvinistic and racist
oppression, they refuse to give up the call for peace.

(September 1, 2024)

Who is the Real Terrorist?

The Taksim Square bombing¹ was quickly followed by widespread war
propaganda, culminating in air strikes on northern Iraq and Syria.
Considerations for a ground operation were voiced at the highest
level.

The Erdoğan regime's media debated the political justifications for
war, using a ground operation to try to cover up the collapse of the
"official narrative" about the Taksim attack. Discussions centered on
whether the United States and Russia, which control Syrian airspace,
had given their consent, and the possible content and outcome of
negotiations with these countries.

The government regularly exploits regional instability for domestic
political maneuvers. Even when it lacks the approval of global powers,
it tries to influence domestic politics by creating an artificial war
agenda. The "nationalist rhetoric" has a major impact on the political
atmosphere in Turkey. Against the backdrop of the use of
disproportionate force by the security forces and the enormous legal
repression, the anti-war opposition finds it difficult to go beyond
political analysis. This inability to challenge the war-oriented
government leads to a situation in which even the opposition bloc
"Altılı Masa"² allies itself with the government.

Every political maneuver is embedded in the perception of historical
events. New wars are justified by old wars. The narrative chain of
events from the Taksim attack to the airstrikes and from the
airstrikes to the prospect of a ground operation is based on a
"historical narrative." As is well known, historiography is not just
the transmission of information from the past, but also reflects the
dynamics of the present. In Turkey, the "official narrative" on
controversial and conflict-ridden issues such as the Kurdish question,
especially under a repressive regime, is shaped by the current
requirements of state strategy while maintaining historical coherence.
This approach links the "old other" with the present-day "enemy" and
anchors the idea of a rapid and violent elimination of the "other" as
a "necessity" in the public consciousness.

_SCIENCE ON A LEASH_

The constant renewal of the official narrative, presented as the "only
truth," is crucial to maintaining its effectiveness. In this process
of renewal, the co-opted academic world plays a central role. By
locking down archival holdings and preventing alternative perspectives
in academic research, contributions to "alternative narratives" by
historians and social scientists are blocked. Researchers who show
courage are sidelined by rigid academic promotion criteria, branded as
"traitors," and, if they do not give in, expelled from universities.

A comprehensive response to the historical narrative shaped by
official interventions and disseminated through the mass media
requires patience and creativity. This response must incorporate
ideological and political analysis, as well as the social dimensions
of war. It must also bring to the public the images of the human
suffering caused by war. Such an approach is not only necessary, but
also imperative within the limits of available means. Against
narratives that focus on commanders, heroes and national interests,
emphasis must be placed on the tragedies of war, the impoverishment of
workers, the waste of resources and the destruction of the
environment. It is crucial to provide the public with concrete images
of the devastation of war and detailed information on its
consequences. Emphasis on the brotherhood of peoples in the face of
the "insensitivity" conveyed by war rhetoric is particularly
important.

There are many people who oppose war, which destroys people's
livelihoods, destroys democracy and makes daily life unbearable. In
this fight, photos that illuminate the negative effects of war policy
on individuals can also make the dynamics of resistance to war policy
visible. In order to counteract the narrative of the "inevitability of
war" and the destructive dynamics of the "culture of war", a language
must be found that brings the "forgotten victims" of war policy to
light. This also includes questioning "individual truths" such as the
narrative of "Operation Claw Sword"³.

The question that must be courageously asked at every opportunity
remains: What is terror and who is the real terrorist?

(October 26, 2022)

The Map of Oppression

The Media and Law Studies Association⁴ recently published its 2024
annual report, which focuses on upholding the right to freedom of
expression and access to information. The report contains data from
614 hearings in 281 cases involving 1,856 defendants between September
1, 2023, and July 20, 2024. According to the report, 46.31 percent of
the defendants were activists, 20.25 percent were students, and 19.71
percent were journalists.

Of the 187 people charged with "membership in an armed terrorist
organization," 64.2 percent were journalists. Likewise, 34.6 percent
of the 162 defendants charged with "spreading terrorist propaganda"
were journalists. Of the 101 people charged with "insulting a public
official," 37.6 percent were members of the press. Of the 63 people
charged with "insulting the president," 24 percent were also
journalists.

In 107 cases monitored by the association, involving 230 defendants,
the plaintiffs were President Erdoğan and his family, high-ranking
bureaucrats, members of the judiciary, local administration officials
and police officers. Of the defendants in these cases, 116 were
journalists.

But today, the repression extends far beyond journalists. It also
affects workers, women, unemployed teachers and countless others. The
ever-increasing scale and intensity of the repression requires a
comprehensive look at the effects of the repression.

A closer look at the repression under the Erdoğan regime reveals a
calculated effort to create legitimacy even before repressive measures
begin. Strategic divisions of society into categories such as
"pure/virtuous people" vs. "corrupt elites," "patriots" vs.
"terrorists," and "local/national" vs. "foreign-backed" are
deliberately made and deployed depending on the actor. Efforts are
made to ensure that repressive agendas are at least partially
supported by the public, and narratives are developed to that effect.
Exploiting unresolved sociopolitical and cultural issues from Turkey's
history, repressive practices are facilitated through sweeping
generalizations and shameless stigmatization.

When implementing a repressive measure, an allegedly urgent societal
threat is first identified. Then a "responsible" and "dangerous" group
is defined, and its actions are cited as justification for the
repression.

But this process does not end there. Then a group is invented and
constructed that supports this repressive policy. For example, a
citizen who campaigns for the protection of water or forest in his
village is pitted against his neighbor who is promised a job as a
security guard at a thermal power plant that is about to be built.
Women who campaign for gender equality and an end to violence are
confronted with mothers who raise their children at home. Those who
protest against the awarding of public contracts to confidants are
attacked by subcontractors of the benefiting companies. A mother who
leaves her child in a municipal daycare center to earn a minimum wage
is frightened with the claim that LGBTQ+ values are imposed on the
children there. Someone who eats healthily is pitted against a
security guard from another neighborhood with different eating or
social habits.

How is support for oppression established by a section of society?

"Dog Whistle Politics"

The term "dog whistle politics," named after whistles that only dogs
can hear, has been used by political scientists for years to describe
how seemingly normal or innocuous statements made by politicians
secretly convey messages that instill fear or a sense of
discriminatory superiority in certain sections of society in order to
secure their votes.

There are numerous examples of political maneuvers that exploit public
fears and anxieties to divide the working class and win elections.
Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan spoke of "welfare queens driving
Cadillacs" and "steak eaters using food stamps" during his 1980
election campaign to imply that black Americans were taking advantage
of the welfare system, thereby appealing to racist sentiments. Donald
Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan similarly courted votes by
evoking nostalgia for a whiter, more Anglo-Saxon past.

A closer look at the current map of oppression in Turkey reveals a
strategy of using fear and exploiting emotions to secure support for
any oppressive agenda. This support is then used to legitimize the
oppression. In an overly polarized social environment, these processes
are implemented through fractures within society and controlled
information flows through state-aligned media.

Therefore, a detailed mapping of all cases of oppression under
Erdoğan's regime is necessary to shed light on the social dynamics
that enable the oppression and to understand how its legitimation
mechanisms work. Only with such a method can we understand how the
government exploits emotional, cultural and social narratives for
pragmatic ends. By uncovering the respective mechanisms of "dog
whistle politics" that include the supporters and exclude the
opponents, we can help strengthen resistance to the oppression.

(December 1, 2024)

NOTES:

1 bomb attack in Istanbul on November 13, 2022, in which six people
died and as a result of which the government imposed a total news
blackout and blocked access to social media, especially Twitter. The
government accused the PKK and the YPG of being responsible for the
attack. The PKK denied the allegations.

2 An alliance of six Kemalist, liberal to conservative parties that
originally joined forces for the 2018 presidential and parliamentary
elections.

3 Name of the Turkish army's military offensive against Kurdish forces
in Syria and Iraq following the bombing on November 13, 2022.

4 Human rights organization founded in 2017 that works to defend
freedom of the press and freedom of expression. www.mlsaturkey.com/en
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_Junge Welt (Young World) is a Marxist-oriented daily newspaper with a
large number of  artcles that provide background and comprehensive
analysis.  It was founded in Berlin in 1947 in the spirit of
anti-fascism.  From 1947 - 1989 it was the most widely read paper in
the GDR. as the publication of the "Fee Democratic Youth."  After
privatization, purchase by a West German media company and subsequent
conflicts, it reemerged as a cooperative in 1995 and has been
publishing daily since then._

* peace
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* Turkey
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* Militarism
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* Dog Whistle
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* Recep Tayyip Erdogan
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* working-class
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* Kurds
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