Ideological `civil war` in progress in Turkiye - expert  

ArmInfo. A real ideological "civil war" is underway in Turkey.  And regardless of its outcome, the process of ideological confrontation itself indicates the  presence of a political process in the country, which you cannot find  in Armenia with fire, says political scientist Vahe Davtyan.

According to him, such confrontation is an important condition for  internal development - both political and social.

"Development, if you like, dialectical. According to the principle of  unity and struggle of opposites. The arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu and the  subsequent protests in Turkey have a pronounced ideological  component. There is a deep split in Turkish society between the  supporters of the Kemalist secular tradition and the  Islamist-conservative government of Erdogan," Davtyan added.

The political scientist added that the conflict is nothing new: it  has been developing over the course of decades, but in recent years  it has become particularly acute against the backdrop of growing  authoritarian tendencies in the policies of the ruling Justice and  Development Party (AKP).

"Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a representative of the  Republican People's Party (CHP), has become a symbol of resistance to  Islamist dominance in Turkish politics. His victory in the 2019  municipal elections, especially given that Erdogan and his supporters  tried to annul the results of the vote and hold new elections,  demonstrated the fatigue of a large part of society with the AKP's  policies.

For Kemalists and liberal circles, Imamoglu represents the  possibility of Turkey's return to the principles of a secular state.  And therefore, this is a tangible threat to the established political  order," the expert believes.

At the same time, he noted that the Turkish judicial system has  already been repeatedly used to pressure the opposition. Davtyan  noted that the case against Imamoglu is a continuation of this line.  "His accusation of 'insulting public servants' and the subsequent  sentencing with a possible ban on political activity indicate the  authorities' desire to prevent him from participating in the upcoming  elections. In conditions where the economic crisis is undermining the  popularity of the AKP and trust in state institutions is falling,  repressions are becoming a tool for Erdogan and his entourage to  retain power. Geopolitical adventures no longer provide the necessary  efficiency for internal legitimization," the political scientist  noted.

At the same time, Davtyan noted that the protests that broke out  after Imamoglu's arrest united different groups of Turkish society,  including Kemalists and liberals who oppose authoritarianism and the  Islamization of the country; Kurdish activists who view the arrest as  a continuation of the repression against the opposition (taking into  account the arrests of members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic  Party); the middle class and youth, disappointed with the economic  situation and the curtailment of freedoms. 

"Considering this stratification, the protests are not only social,  but also deeply ideological, reflecting the struggle for the future  of the country - whether it will move towards authoritarian  neo-Ottomanism or return to the Kemalist secular path. The further  development of the situation largely depends on the reaction of  society and international pressure. If the protest movement  intensifies, it may become a serious challenge to the authorities.  Especially on the eve of the elections. However, the AKP, having  significant control over the state apparatus and security forces,  will probably go for further tightening of repressions. Which may  lead to an even greater split in society, and therefore, to the  continuation of the ideological ''civil war''," Davtyan summed up.

In Turkey, thousands of protests continue, caused by the arrest of  the mayor of Istanbul, who has opposition views. The police used  water cannons and tear gas. Hundreds of demonstrators were detained.