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IS DAVUTOGLU ENVER JR.?
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=286048
July 9 2012
Turkey
"Enver Jr." is a nickname that Republican People's Party (CHP) leader
Kemal Kılıcdaroglu used in reference to Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu in an attempt to criticize the government's Syria policy.
His reference to Enver Pasha, the defense minister and chief of staff
of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and an important historical
figure, implies that the CHP leader is accusing the Justice and
Development Party (AK Party) government of pursuing imperial policies
of the Ottoman Empire. The Enver Pasha doctrine symbolizes assertive
policies that culminated in disasters.
The day Kılıcdaroglu made this reference to Davutoglu, I, in my
column published in the Zaman daily, made an analogy between the
current AK Party administration and the Committee of Union and Progress
(CUP) government ruling the Ottoman Empire between 1908 and 1918 and
referred to Enver Pasha, the number one figure of this period. Some
attempts were made to relate to Kılıcdaroglu's "Enver Jr." remark.
What really matters is to recall this legacy and take a look at the
Middle East policy from a historical perspective. Enver Pasha is a
great name that deserves a refresher of our memories.
The CUP government, under the leadership of the three Pashas --
Enver, Talat and Cemal -- was the rising star of the last stage of
the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian deportation was their plan.
Interestingly, they made the first attempt to transition to a
multiparty system. They ended the 33-year-long rule of Abdulhamid II
through a military coup and administered the state relying on coercion
and intimidation. They made a pact with the Germans and entered World
War I. In a very short time, they modernized the army, converting it
into a strong instrument that was effective on the battleground. The
War of Gallipoli is their success. In the end, they were defeated. Two
of these three men were killed by Armenian assassins, whereas Enver
Pasha was murdered by the Soviet military in Central Asia.
Enver Pasha was a young and idealistic military serviceman. He had
great ambitions. But he was not realistic. He led a life in pursuit
of Pan-Turkism and Pan-Islamism. The name of Enver Pasha symbolizes
unrealistic adventurers detached from reality. His style is seen as
adventurous in foreign policy.
The name and personality of Enver Pasha are part of the key to becoming
a great state in the minds of military servicemen. For this reason,
during the civil war in Tajikistan after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, the body of Enver Pasha was exhumed and taken to İstanbul by
a military operation where his body and ideals were preserved and
honored. In short, the state views him as significant in the field
of foreign policy.
But still, it is not proper to make an analogy between Davutoglu
and Enver Pasha. Davutoglu's policy is not Pan-Turkism. Davutoglu's
doctrine, focusing on the Islamic world, is closer to Abdulhamid's
foreign policy style. Like the one pursued by Abdulhamid, it is
realistic and wise. Likewise, it is similar to Abdulhamid's style in
one more respect: patience.
The current stage of Turkey's Syria policy refers to the end of a
game. The game is not over yet. Turkey has made proper moves in this
conundrum. This calculation will be justified when the Assad regime
is gone.
It is not possible to deny the Ottoman imprints in Davutoglu's policy.
However, these imprints were borrowed from Abdulhamid's regional
policy, not from the policies of the CUP.
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=286048
July 9 2012
Turkey
"Enver Jr." is a nickname that Republican People's Party (CHP) leader
Kemal Kılıcdaroglu used in reference to Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu in an attempt to criticize the government's Syria policy.
His reference to Enver Pasha, the defense minister and chief of staff
of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and an important historical
figure, implies that the CHP leader is accusing the Justice and
Development Party (AK Party) government of pursuing imperial policies
of the Ottoman Empire. The Enver Pasha doctrine symbolizes assertive
policies that culminated in disasters.
The day Kılıcdaroglu made this reference to Davutoglu, I, in my
column published in the Zaman daily, made an analogy between the
current AK Party administration and the Committee of Union and Progress
(CUP) government ruling the Ottoman Empire between 1908 and 1918 and
referred to Enver Pasha, the number one figure of this period. Some
attempts were made to relate to Kılıcdaroglu's "Enver Jr." remark.
What really matters is to recall this legacy and take a look at the
Middle East policy from a historical perspective. Enver Pasha is a
great name that deserves a refresher of our memories.
The CUP government, under the leadership of the three Pashas --
Enver, Talat and Cemal -- was the rising star of the last stage of
the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian deportation was their plan.
Interestingly, they made the first attempt to transition to a
multiparty system. They ended the 33-year-long rule of Abdulhamid II
through a military coup and administered the state relying on coercion
and intimidation. They made a pact with the Germans and entered World
War I. In a very short time, they modernized the army, converting it
into a strong instrument that was effective on the battleground. The
War of Gallipoli is their success. In the end, they were defeated. Two
of these three men were killed by Armenian assassins, whereas Enver
Pasha was murdered by the Soviet military in Central Asia.
Enver Pasha was a young and idealistic military serviceman. He had
great ambitions. But he was not realistic. He led a life in pursuit
of Pan-Turkism and Pan-Islamism. The name of Enver Pasha symbolizes
unrealistic adventurers detached from reality. His style is seen as
adventurous in foreign policy.
The name and personality of Enver Pasha are part of the key to becoming
a great state in the minds of military servicemen. For this reason,
during the civil war in Tajikistan after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, the body of Enver Pasha was exhumed and taken to İstanbul by
a military operation where his body and ideals were preserved and
honored. In short, the state views him as significant in the field
of foreign policy.
But still, it is not proper to make an analogy between Davutoglu
and Enver Pasha. Davutoglu's policy is not Pan-Turkism. Davutoglu's
doctrine, focusing on the Islamic world, is closer to Abdulhamid's
foreign policy style. Like the one pursued by Abdulhamid, it is
realistic and wise. Likewise, it is similar to Abdulhamid's style in
one more respect: patience.
The current stage of Turkey's Syria policy refers to the end of a
game. The game is not over yet. Turkey has made proper moves in this
conundrum. This calculation will be justified when the Assad regime
is gone.
It is not possible to deny the Ottoman imprints in Davutoglu's policy.
However, these imprints were borrowed from Abdulhamid's regional
policy, not from the policies of the CUP.