‘Turkey: Rage’ and ‘visual impairment’ - by Nuray Mert

Right now, we see an extremely mean language of politics, personal vendettas and cheap election salvos in town squares. On one side, the laic-Republican camp fails to go beyond libels like “religionist organization,” “religious sect” and “villa with a pool” as they react against the social-political rise of conservatives. The most important reason why the laic-Republicans have become shallow is that they cannot recover from feeling helpless.

On the other side, the conservative camp cannot translate their reaction against the Republican revolution into a decent democratic political criticism. They suffer blind rage. Yes, they are trying very hard to break this cycle with the momentum of accumulated objections to the hard-line frame of the Republican regime. But the notion of “settling scores with the tutelage regime” is, as a matter of fact, not a move against a military-bureaucratic tutelage but a flat feeling of seeking a return game.On the other side, the conservative camp cannot translate their reaction against the Republican revolution into a decent democratic political criticism. They suffer blind rage. Yes, they are trying very hard to break this cycle with the momentum of accumulated objections to the hard-line frame of the Republican regime. But the notion of “settling scores with the tutelage regime” is, as a matter of fact, not a move against a military-bureaucratic tutelage but a flat feeling of seeking a return game.

Regardless of the referendum’s outcome, we are heading into the unknown. Politics requires the “management” of turmoil. It is to make the future as clear as possible. But seemingly, none of the political actors has the ability to do so. In all the chaos, the delirium of intellectuals is just saddening.

For the complete report: ‘Rage’ and ‘visual impairment’ - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review