Question: Internal conflicts, social polarization, and political crises seem never to end in our country and in other regions facing similar conditions. What can be done to break this vicious cycle?
Answer: First of all, we should recognize that the problems mentioned in the question are not unique to Türkiye. When we look at different parts of the world, we see that similar problems occur in many places. In the recent past, countries in our region, such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, have also struggled to escape a destructive cycle of confrontation and mutual destruction.
Similar problems, whether large or small, arise in almost every country. Conflicts, uprisings, and rebellions are among the events that societies may experience from time to time. However, their consequences are not the same everywhere. Countries with sound institutional foundations, strong public institutions, a functioning legal system, and an established democratic culture are better equipped to manage crises. By contrast, countries lacking these qualities may suffer severe damage from similar challenges because they are less resilient in times of crisis. We can compare this to a healthy body that fights off viruses and bacteria and prevents them from causing harm. When the body is weakened, however, even a minor illness can have serious consequences.
By strength, we do not mean military or economic power alone. Countries that are powerful in these areas can also make serious mistakes. In fact, the resources at their disposal may prevent them from making sufficient use of the opportunities offered by reason, the rule of law, and diplomacy. When confronted with domestic or international problems, they may adopt misguided strategies and seek solutions through brute force. This danger becomes even greater when hatred, anger, and the desire for revenge come into play. Under the influence of such emotions, those in power may fail to consider the full consequences of their actions and cause lasting harm not only to their own societies but also to humanity as a whole.
On the other hand, authoritarian regimes that do not respect the rule of law or democratic values generally attempt to suppress internal unrest and social movements through undemocratic means. They do not hesitate to use excessive force against their opponents and seek to silence opposition through imprisonment, torture, and mistreatment. When they consider it necessary, they may even kill their own citizens and carry out large-scale massacres. This is because they are restrained neither by a strong legal system nor by a sound system of values. Consequently, oppression, repression, and human rights violations are common in countries ruled by such authoritarian regimes. The situation becomes even worse when people lack an established culture of asserting their rights, are unsure how to respond to oppression, and have low levels of education. Under these circumstances, authoritarian rulers become increasingly oppressive. As people grow more fearful and intimidated, those in power interpret their silence as evidence of their own strength. They then intensify their repression and tighten their control over society.
In such societies, religious, political, and ethnic differences are deliberately brought to the forefront and exaggerated. Artificial divisions are continually created, while polarization and social fragmentation are encouraged. Different segments of society lose trust in one another, and people begin to view others with suspicion. Even the most innocent activities are interpreted as having hidden motives, and conspiracy-based thinking becomes increasingly widespread. Society becomes divided into different groups, none of which approves of what the others do. These groups become unable to sit around the same table, discuss their shared problems, or find common ground through constructive dialogue.
Unfortunately, the general situation in our own country over the past few centuries has not been very different. Different segments of society have repeatedly been set against one another and driven into conflict. As a result, the common ground on which people might come together around shared values has gradually been destroyed. Conflicts and confrontations have therefore continued almost without interruption, and many of our cherished values have been lost in this destructive cycle of mutual hostility and conflict.
Wounds this deep cannot easily be healed in a short time. What is needed is a sustained, collective effort to reform and revitalize society. Society must be rebuilt around its own national and religious values, as well as its spiritual and moral roots. In this process of reconstruction, the family must fulfill its responsibilities, schools must develop educational programs that support these goals, and places of worship must contribute to the renewal of society's spiritual life.
Despite their apparent strength, authoritarian regimes are often far more fragile than they seem. They believe they have everything under control, but in reality, they resemble buildings constructed on unstable and shifting ground. Although they may appear imposing from the outside, their foundations are remarkably weak. They exert enormous pressure on society in an attempt to silence every opposing voice. Yet because they lack genuine legitimacy and a sound legal foundation, an unexpected development or even a moderate crisis may be enough to throw their entire system into disarray.
In repressive regimes, the oligarchic minorities that hold power are generally unwilling to embrace democratic values. Even if democracy is introduced into such countries, it is difficult for these groups to accept democratic governance. This is because powerful interest groups do not want ordinary citizens to enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms or to benefit fairly from the resources and opportunities provided by the state. They fear that a genuine system based on the rule of law would undermine the privileged order they have established and deprive them of the advantages they currently enjoy.
While these groups share the state's resources and opportunities among a small circle of insiders, they deny the wider population access to those same benefits. They prefer people to remain trapped in poverty and deprivation, occupied solely with their immediate struggles for survival. At the same time, they continually seek to expand their own spheres of influence while restricting the freedom of ordinary citizens to act as much as possible. Indeed, Türkiye’s recent experience has not been entirely different from this picture.
Nevertheless, it is difficult for such unjust systems to survive indefinitely. Over time, repression and repeated violations of people's rights create widespread discontent, and the number of dissatisfied citizens continues to grow. It is impossible to maintain social peace and stability in a society where people's sense of justice is continually violated and their fundamental rights and freedoms are systematically denied. For this reason, systems built on oppression and coercion carry within themselves the very forces that eventually lead to their deterioration, regardless of how powerful they may appear from the outside.
Indeed, in countries where the rule of law and democracy have not been established on firm foundations, even events that could easily be managed under normal circumstances may develop into major social and political crises. The recent histories of Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt provide numerous examples of this. In Türkiye, for instance, military interventions and coups have taken place at various intervals since the 1960s. Each new group that came to power attempted to change the system established by its predecessors. Yet despite all these interventions and changes, society was not given the opportunity to stand on its own values and express itself freely. The principle that “Sovereignty belongs unconditionally and without reservation to the nation” has largely remained a statement on paper, while the dignity, honor, and will of the people have repeatedly been violated.[1]
Ultimately, overcoming these problems requires building a system founded on the rule of law and democratic values. There is no doubt that democracy itself is a model of governance that continues to develop and mature over time. Different forms of democracy exist throughout the world today. The existing democratic system can be further developed and enriched to meet people's needs more fully in every dimension of life: material and nonmaterial, worldly and otherworldly, bodily and spiritual.
It is possible to establish a legal and social environment based on freedom in which everyone can express themselves openly and without fear. In such a society, people would not be disturbed by one another's ways of life. Women who do not cover their hair would see nothing unusual in those who do, and women who cover their hair would likewise see nothing unusual in those who do not. Those who pray would not find it strange that others do not, and those who do not pray would likewise regard those who do as perfectly normal. No one would face pressure because of their beliefs, opinions, or way of life, nor would anyone be forced to adopt a lifestyle against their will.
People would accept one another as they are and learn to live together while preserving their differences. After all, democracy and republican government are, in essence, systems designed to accommodate differences. The real problem is not the existence of these differences but the narrow-minded and selfish attitudes of those who cannot accept them.
[1] “Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation” is the motto inscribed on the wall behind the Speaker’s podium in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.
Note: This article was adapted from a talk given on March 7, 2006.