ISTANBUL WRITER SAYS TURKISH/U.S. MISUNDERSTANDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 001058

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2027
TAGS: PREL PHUM TU
SUBJECT: ISTANBUL WRITER SAYS TURKISH/U.S. MISUNDERSTANDING
UNDERSTANDABLE

REF: A. ANKARA 2905

B. 06 ISTANBUL 1669

Classified By: Consul General Sharon A. Wiener for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary and comment. Many western ideas have not
penetrated the Turkish mindset, including some as basic as
limited government. This sometimes leads to misunderstandings
between Americans and Turkish counterparts. Prevailing
non-western ways of thinking often give life to conspiracy
theories that are accepted as truth across economic, social
and academic lines. Istanbul writer Mustafa Akyol recently
amplified some of this with us. If, in this traditionally
top-down society, limited government is not comprehensible to
most Turks as he claims, conspiracy theories heard from
boardrooms to kitchen tables make imminent sense. Any mental
shift away from top-down authority formerly centered in the
Sultan/Caliph is difficult at best. Those who try to make
the shift are often accused of wanting to divide Turkey.
This situation presents real challenges to Americans to first
understand the contextual difference and then try to answer
the conspiracy theory with a culturally effective counter
argument. End summary and comment.

LIMITED GOVERNMENT - COME AGAIN
--------------


2. (C) Akyol, a writer for the Turkish Daily News and
frequent contributor to U.S. publications, said one factor
contributing to unease in U.S. - Turkish relations is that
many western ideas have not penetrated Turkish society. A
bilingual writer familiar with U.S. audiences, Akyol can step
back from his own cultural context and see what others miss.
One important concept that lacks currency is limited
government. Akyol said that, in this traditionally top-down
society, there isn't even a Turkish translation that
adequately conveys the idea. One possible translation,
"gecici hukumeti" literally means temporary government. For
a contemporary example of how one Turkish bureaucrat views
limited government, see Ref. A. In a society where the
concept of limited government is not understood, the
revelation that a "superpower" - which in the past, Turks
knew in the form of the "great power" - may not hold all the
cards in, say Iraq, is incomprehensible.


3. (C) As a practical application, the PKK has become a
"great power" problem. Akyol recalled the Sheikh Said Piran
rebellion of Kurds in 1925. Akyol says Turkish history books
claim the British paid Said to rebel. Akyol argues there is
no evidence for this, but "great power" intrusion was a
useful excuse for the Kurdish rebellion, a situation that
persists today. This reasoning makes it easy for Turks to
conclude the "ultimate superpower," aka the United States,
must have a hand in PKK violence. The U.S. "uses this card"
against Turkey, standard Turkish reasoning goes, to force
Turkey to accept a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq, for
example, or to ask for concessions on Cyprus.

AUTHORITY IN ISLAM WITHOUT THE CALIPH
--------------


4. (C) Akyol noted various Kurdish rebellions of the 1920s,
which took place in the context of the abolishment of the
Caliphate as well as the outlawing of tarikats (Muslim secret
societies) in Turkey. Traditional Kurdish society, according
to Akyol, reacted to these changes in the unifying role of
religion in the state by substituting Kurdish nationalism as
an overarching ideal.


5. (C) While many Shia turn to an Ayatollah for guidance in
matters of faith, Sunni Muslims look to the guidance of
scholars, according to Akyol. However, scholars do not
ultimately determine the correct path as does an Ayatollah,
especially in political matters. In Turkey, Muslim societies
or "tarikats" had performed some of this role in matters of
faith, but no longer. Akyol termed tarikats as old-fashioned
and in any case, banned, perhaps a bit disingenuously. For
while they are outlawed, people still seek them out - to find
that overarching authority? (Ref B.) Akyol explained the
Caliph used to rule in matters related to politics, but the
Caliph always consulted with a sheikh for religious insight.
Akyol said sheikhs are still a unifying authority in some
instances. Charismatic leaders today gain a following
through the Internet, he said. In Turkey, the Directorate
General of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) is the continuation of
the Caliphate, and needless to say, it seeks guidance neither
from tarikats nor sheikhs.

ISTANBUL 00001058 002 OF 002




6. (C) Akyol lamented the lack of a religious authority
today which could help resolve problems such as Palestine or
Chechnya. The only solution now is to eliminate hate speech,
not to redesign the Islamic faith, he argued. In prior days,
if the sheikh directed followers to participate or not in
certain actions, he could expect obedience - making the
solution of even political problems "easier." Interestingly,
for a Turk as readily conversant with western audiences and
ideas as Akyol, the appeal of a unified authority to decide
difficult issues remains the very strong default response.
WIENER