The problem is with our democracy

If you ask me who made the most correct analysis of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) extraordinary congress, I would cite Radikal’s Mine Kırkkanat’s article that was published on Jan. 30. Just read the third and second from last paragraphs in the article.

Let’s not act as if we were very upset about the scenes of the congress that we saw. Just like in every other part of our society, shouting at the speaker and walking threateningly towards him or her is considered normal. We shouldn’t forget that violence in our Parliament is common.

It is impossible not to be amazed at those who were amazed to hear CHP leader Deniz Baykal talk about his claims of a foreign and domestic conspiracy against the party. The problem is not whether or not there is a conspiracy. Weren’t Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine forced to be democratic through outside intervention? Wasn’t there a psychological initiative targeting those who were in “support of peace” in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC)? Foreign intervention for “democracy” and “peace” are no longer called democracy, anyway. Actually, the weight of diplomacy in foreign policy has been decreasing for some time. It is being replaced by operations initiated with a new understanding of intelligence. The entire world, including those who initiate such operations, will pay the price in the future.

It is correct to note that the CHP has moved towards nationalism as a result of its past. Some describe it as maintaining an outdated stance in a globalizing world. They accuse the CHP of failing to adapt to change. The problem is more about the world entering a period of instability, similar to how it was in the 19th century, after the collapse of the bipolar world. Religious and cultural opposition to our European Union membership, akin to anti-Semitism, is feeding nationalism. Isn’t the continued embargo on the Turkish Cypriots and us being forced to appease the Greek Cypriots in order to prevent them using their veto power, despite all the sacrifices we have made, and the developments in Iraq forcing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government towards a more nationalist stance?

The criticism directed at Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül are based on allegations of corruptions. Sarıgül failed to defend himself against these accusations. The media should have been the first to say that an individual accused of such crimes couldn’t be a party leader. Just the opposite happened. The media criticized Baykal and indirectly, but very forcefully, supported Sarıgül. Unfortunately, I believe we can now start talking about confrontation between the media and some political forces which might result in a serious upheaval that could damage the democracy. When it starts losing its ability to influence the media, the AKP might join forces with the others.

The problems faced by the CHP are not anything that we don’t see in all other democratic countries. However, in Turkey, these problems have become even more serious. The first problem is electing the party leader. Contrary to common belief, this cannot be resolved through intra-party democracy. The solution lies with the development of rules that govern leadership elections and transforming them into tradition.

The other problem is the failure of social democracy to replace the social project that expired due to globalization. Distancing itself from the people is just a consequence. Leftist parties in developed nations resolved this problem by constructing packages like the “third way,” which were mostly artificial. Actually, the model promoted by CHP deputy Kemal Derviş is something that the AKP would find it easy to adopt. We see that none of those who desire change in the CHP can come up with an original model.

Sarıgül was maybe the last person who could have resolved these problems. And when Baykal confronted him, the CHP leader obliterated him. However, how come he was able to attract 460 votes, when he should have received only a few?

This shows the dire state not only of the CHP but also of our politics. It doesn’t seem that the CHP’s problems will be resolved through an attitude change that will bring it closer to the people and turn it into a vote-winning party. At least a portion of society chose to vote for shady and even morally corrupt and aggressive individuals who couldn’t talk and had no idea about the issues or their possible solutions. Sarıgül was not the first, and he probably won’t be the last. Just like when Vahdettin, the heir to the Ottoman throne, pretended to be an idiot in order to stay in the corrupt palace, will one need to hide his or her knowledge, oratorical abilities and morals in order to gain the people’s respect and tolerance?

Or has our democracy, which failed to resolve problems and in fact collects them, forced our people to make choices that will prevent from democracy surviving?