Issue Overview and Spatial Significant (What is there? Why there? Once hailed as an example of democracy in the Middle East, Turkey has since purged and detained many academics, journalists, and civil society activists since a coup attempt in July 15th, 2016. One targeted group was the Kurdish HDP, whose members of parliament were detained. One must first understand the longstanding conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan Worker’s Party. The long-standing Turkish PM Erdogan perceived the coup as a threat to his power from the Kurdish and began purging in order to maintain his power.
Patterns and Trends (Part of a larger pattern or trend in the region? Or is it isolated?): The purges are part of a wider trend of deterioration and failure of democracy in many regions around the world. In France, the government has exercised a state of emergency and invoked special powers that can violate private rights. In the Middle East, the Arab Spring has largely been a failure, and the governments have remained autocratic.
Geographic Perspectives and interrelationships (SPEEC, connections to studies in class): This issue has many political and social connections, and it relates to Unit 3. The crackdown after from the purge is a result of an semi-autocratic government looking to secure its hold on power. As a result of the political crackdown, the human rights, guaranteed by the IDHR, of the arrested are being violated by the Turkish government. These include Article 19, the right to freedom and expression since many of the arrested are simply presenting their own political views.
Key Stakeholders (Who are the key stakeholders?) Turkish Government: There has been conflict between Turkey and the Kurds before. The recent coup is a threat to stability and needs to be reined into control.
Pro-Kurdish Party HDP: While there has been conflict between Turkey and the Kurds before, the politicians did not sanction any such attacks or the coup. After being arrested, these politicians fear for their life and are wary of future discrimination.
Journalists and Media: Their job is to report the facts and stories as they see it. However, some of the stories written are censored and do not appear on major news outlets. The Turkish government is affecting your rights of expression.
Issue Implications - Why Care (SPEEC Impacts)? Turkey is a major ally of the US and Canada in the Middle East, an area of instability. It is important to question the state of government and its political stability and whether we should continue to be allied with an autocratic state. More importantly, the situation in Turkey challenges the state of democracy in the wider world. One must keep in mind that what happened in Turkey can also happen in North American and European democracies around the world. Especially if we draw parallels between right-wing leaders such as Recep Erdogan and others such as Marine Le Pen in France and Donald Trump in the USA.