General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), soL columnist, Kemal Okuyan wrote an article on October 10 regarding the recent Turkey-U.S. row sparked with mutual travel and visa restrictions and the role of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:
Turkey has no specific foreign policy. We insistently say that there is no "foreign policy" but Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s self-saving manoeuvres.
Some examples?
Tayyip Erdoğan has recently visited Ukraine and said, "We do not recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea," followed by the abrupt respond of Russia: "Whether Erdoğan recognises or not, Crimea belongs to Russia as he already knows." This is an indirect, polite way of stating, "Do not take Erdoğan seriously," which is not to be taken as a "polite" manner regarding diplomatic jargon.
Perhaps because Erdoğan is well aware of this fact, he preferred to nod off during the press conference with Ukrainian President Poroshenko. In his previous visit, he had posed for the cameras with the same Poroshenko, saying, "Do not mind Russia, we can get along well together". If Turkey had some sort of foreign policy strategy, Erdoğan would not get so exhausted. Indeed, who could endure such frequent manoeuvres?
It is not long, but a few weeks ago, he introduced his new friend to us: "My friend Donald," he said. The U.S. President Donald Trump, about whom now talks challengingly –"O America!" They were such good friends that the two countries had never got along so well, said 'Chief's [Erdoğan] lackeys… Then, he met his other friend, Vladimir, and Turkish newspapers reported that he addressed the Russian leader as "my friend" eight times.
This is what happens when the foreign policy is replaced by a struggle for personal salvation; which is why he walks around with "my friend"s, "my brother"s, "my fellow"s. It seems that Merkel had a narrow escape, he could have addressed her “my sister Angela,” and then he would have flaunted again and yelled: "O Germany!"
Let’s try finding some answers to the question "What is happening?" in the midst of so many friends and brothers.
This is roughly what is happening: Erdoğan says "I will put a spoke in your wheel, and I will disturb you if you push me." We should make it clear that we do not mean "pushing Turkey" at this point, for the question is merely Tayyip Erdoğan himself.
On the other hand, we should ask if there are any reasons for the U.S. and Germany to push Erdoğan. Yes, there are. There is more than one reason. Let’s clarify the situation:
1. Erdoğan is thought to be a hard-to-control actor. The fact that he has such a base of supporters who seem unconcerned about any development in Turkey bothers imperialist centres, which do not abstain from instrumentalising grassroots all the time for political takeovers in many countries.
2. Erdoğan cannot persuade the urban and dynamic sections of Turkish society to his model. Partly, as in the summer of 2013 [when the mass anti-government June Resistance, or Gezi Park protests, started], the U.S. and other forces seem wary of the fact that reactions of these sections may reach such a level that people may question the existing order.
3. Erdoğan carries out rapid manoeuvres. Thus he has the potential of leading to dysfunctions about the international hierarchy.
4. Erdoğan overestimated his force in Syria, somehow misdirected the U.S., and turned the project he had undertaken adrift.
5. As a leader of a NATO country, he dares to act with a high hand in his relations with Russia, violating the major rule of the bloodiest terror organisation in the world.
6. Granting the right to Turkey's capitalists to plunder the country, Erdoğan has got into the habit of adjusting the capitalist economy by himself, designating what actors are to be utilised for the shares, and seizing the entities of some capitalists and transferring them to his favourite ones.
7. Erdoğan is unstable in the resolution of the Kurdish question that is also significant to the U.S., immediately shifting his policy of alliance while appearing as a "solver" one day and as a "combatant" next day in light of his personal interests.
Let's stop here. We should note that all these take place when the competition and antagonisms between the worldwide great powers are further sharpenings. All the manoeuvres of Erdoğan are leading to a shift in the balances of such powers. In other words, Erdoğan’s moves for his personal salvation lead to comprehensive consequences.
We know some argue that Erdoğan is acting for the interests of Turkey taking the abovementioned facts into account. But, that is wrong. Above all, internal affairs and foreign affairs cannot be separated from each other to that extent. Turkey’s social and political system is established on the interests of exploiters, and the exploited millions of people are repressed with violence, unlawfulness, blackmailing and Islamism. It is impossible for such a country’s foreign policy to be for the benefit of all the citizens. Turkey’s foreign policy pays regard to the interests of capitalists. Despite the entire directionless moves, therefore, what becomes stable in Turkey’s foreign affairs is to take proper steps for the sake of domestic and foreign monopolies (what is domestic and what is foreign is also complicated at this point). There is no single element here for the good of our people, including the recent policies in Iraq and Syria.
Nevertheless, Erdoğan’s moves for his salvation are pushing the limits of Turkey’s capitalist class. The Turkish economy cannot break with the U.S. or Germany. The Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) and the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) have “gently” warned Erdoğan with their statements one after another. Why? Because Turkey’s capitalists would follow such a foreign policy to some extent, which is devoid of a strategic coherence and carried out with personal concerns.
So, shall we be pleased with the actual conditions? Are we getting rid of the U.S., are we teaching Germany its place, are we striking a blow against the prestige of the capitalist class? Is that what happens?
There is no such thing…
Attempting to wage a fight against the U.S. now, Erdoğan has been the most pro-U.S. and collaborationist politician of Turkish history. He could restore his collaborationism again. What seems possible is that no pro-people will can emerge at this point. Just like no positive attitude arises from the anti-American discourse of the Taliban in Afghanistan or of the al-Qaeda somewhere else, nothing would emerge from here as well.
There is no reason to think that such a political group, which is completely made up of capitalists and thus has fostered the capitalists for the last 15 years, would settle the scores with the capitalist order.
In this respect, three possible results may arise in the long term. First, Erdoğan may make bigger concessions to compromise with the imperialist world, and act for the benefit of capitalists just like he did during the July 15 coup attempt. Second, the U.S. dollar may be nailed on his head, and, since he is just an individual, the people would pay the price, and he could be substituted for some other figures. Third, Turkey may enter into chaos, or perhaps, may slide into a much graver circumstance.
It is apparent that none of these three possibilities would be for the benefit of our people.
As is seen, the search for 'lesser evil' and pro-capitalist order solutions are extremely dangerous. For instance, challenging the U.S. with this economy, or intimidating Germany with this social system… You resort to an absolute exploitation of the people, then challenge to the apex of that exploitative world. Are you kidding! What about the people and their interests? You resort to Islamism and racism in domestic affairs, then say "My friend Donald" but walk around saying "Hey America!", yet receive the applauses in any case! And, this will be called as independency!
However… As the capitalist order scattered the mechanism, as the ‘Grand Chief’ is looking for a safe harbour for his salvation, as the capitalists panic despite the "heaven" of exploitation, as the U.S. and Germany are already preoccupied with their troubles, should not the people get organized and arise “for a fourth alternative so as to smash this obsolete order”?
