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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Oct 7 2012
Galtung solutions to Turkey's problems
by Å?AHÄ°N ALPAY
Johan Galtung, distinguished Norwegian social scientist, founder of
peace and conflict studies and holder of an honorary `Alternative
Nobel Prize' for 1987, was in Turkey last week. He lectured for the
international master's degree in peace and conflict studies program of
Hacettepe University (www.peace.hacettepe.edu.tr), gave a talk on
`Possible solutions to contemporary conflicts in the Middle East' at a
conference organized by BoÄ?aziçi University Peace Education
Application & Research Center, and delivered the keynote speech at the
conference on `Peace in the Balkans' organized by Hacettepe University
on the 100th anniversary of the Balkan Wars of 1912. His visit
provided me opportunities to once more meet and exchange views with
Professor Galtung, whom I have great respect for and is someone I keep
learning from.
The `Transcend' method of conflict resolution put forward by Galtung
basically involves three steps: (1) Diagnosis: Identify the causes
that give rise to conflict; (2) Prognosis: Assess possible
consequences; and (3) Remove the causes that give rise to conflict.
Galtung's premise is that without first putting on the table a
solution whereby all parties will win and which respects basic human
needs such as survival, physical well-being, liberty and identity, it
is impossible to resolve conflicts.
Let me share some of the insights Galtung's Transcend approach yields
in conflicts that concern Turkey. In Syria, the people have risen up
against a minority dictatorship. There is, however, a risk that the
uprising will lead to a majority dictatorship. The solution to the
crisis can only be achieved through negotiations between all those
involved and should assure autonomy for all ethnic and religious
groups in a federal democratic state based on the Swiss model. (For
Galtung's full analysis see: The Daily Star, June 23, 2012.)
At the bottom of the Kurdish problem lies the fact that 25-30 million
Kurds are divided among five states in theMiddle East and remain as
one of the largest peoples without a state of their own. This is what
has given rise to protracted, endless violence. The solution to the
problem is possible through the following steps: (1) Basic rights and
freedoms of Kurds should be recognized in all the countries they are
citizens of. (2) All Kurdish-majority regions should acquire autonomy
where Kurdish becomes the official, regional language. (3) A
confederation of Kurdistan should be formed between the autonomous
regions without any changes in the borders of countries concerned. In
order for all this to happen, violence needs to stop. Armed
insurgencies only help the adversaries of the Kurds.
The Turkish-Armenian conflict arises from the fact that hundreds of
thousands of Ottoman Armenians were massacred in 1915-16, whether it
is referred to as genocide or not. A formula will be found for Turkey
to acknowledge the massacres, because it has to be found. Turkey will
have to acknowledge the mass killings with the right to invoke the
circumstances which led to such events. Armenian insistence on the
massacres being recognized as genocide is one of the the main
obstacles to conciliation between the two sides.
The Cyprus conflict has its roots in the Greek demands for `enosis'
(unification with Greece) and Turkish demands for `taksim' (partition)
of the island. The possibility of war cannot be excluded. The problem
can be finally resolved if: the European Union accepts Turkey as full
member, following its reconciliation with the Kurds; the EU and others
recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC); and Cyprus
becomes a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with equality between the
two sides and joins the EU. (For details of Galtung's analyses see:
`50 Years: 100 Peace & Conflict Perspectives,' Bergen: Transcend
University Press, 2008.)
Galtung's assumptions and assessments concerning `diagnosis --
prognosis and therapy' for each of the conflicts above may surely be
challenged. I have no doubts, however, on the soundness of his method.
I entirely agree with him that it is impossible to resolve conflicts
without identifying the causes by rational analysis, examining the
current and possible consequences and first putting forward a solution
based on ethical principles that is acceptable to all sides involved.
Turkey's experiences surely confirm that the unresolved conflicts the
country is party to emanate from failures to apply a method of
resolution along the lines suggested by Galtung.
I cannot end without strongly recommending Galtung's recent commentary
on whether freedom of expression is compatible with freedom to insult
that what is held to be sacred. (See: `Freedom of Expression = Freedom
to Insult?' Transcend Media Service, Oct. 1, 2012.)
From: A. Papazian
Oct 7 2012
Galtung solutions to Turkey's problems
by Å?AHÄ°N ALPAY
Johan Galtung, distinguished Norwegian social scientist, founder of
peace and conflict studies and holder of an honorary `Alternative
Nobel Prize' for 1987, was in Turkey last week. He lectured for the
international master's degree in peace and conflict studies program of
Hacettepe University (www.peace.hacettepe.edu.tr), gave a talk on
`Possible solutions to contemporary conflicts in the Middle East' at a
conference organized by BoÄ?aziçi University Peace Education
Application & Research Center, and delivered the keynote speech at the
conference on `Peace in the Balkans' organized by Hacettepe University
on the 100th anniversary of the Balkan Wars of 1912. His visit
provided me opportunities to once more meet and exchange views with
Professor Galtung, whom I have great respect for and is someone I keep
learning from.
The `Transcend' method of conflict resolution put forward by Galtung
basically involves three steps: (1) Diagnosis: Identify the causes
that give rise to conflict; (2) Prognosis: Assess possible
consequences; and (3) Remove the causes that give rise to conflict.
Galtung's premise is that without first putting on the table a
solution whereby all parties will win and which respects basic human
needs such as survival, physical well-being, liberty and identity, it
is impossible to resolve conflicts.
Let me share some of the insights Galtung's Transcend approach yields
in conflicts that concern Turkey. In Syria, the people have risen up
against a minority dictatorship. There is, however, a risk that the
uprising will lead to a majority dictatorship. The solution to the
crisis can only be achieved through negotiations between all those
involved and should assure autonomy for all ethnic and religious
groups in a federal democratic state based on the Swiss model. (For
Galtung's full analysis see: The Daily Star, June 23, 2012.)
At the bottom of the Kurdish problem lies the fact that 25-30 million
Kurds are divided among five states in theMiddle East and remain as
one of the largest peoples without a state of their own. This is what
has given rise to protracted, endless violence. The solution to the
problem is possible through the following steps: (1) Basic rights and
freedoms of Kurds should be recognized in all the countries they are
citizens of. (2) All Kurdish-majority regions should acquire autonomy
where Kurdish becomes the official, regional language. (3) A
confederation of Kurdistan should be formed between the autonomous
regions without any changes in the borders of countries concerned. In
order for all this to happen, violence needs to stop. Armed
insurgencies only help the adversaries of the Kurds.
The Turkish-Armenian conflict arises from the fact that hundreds of
thousands of Ottoman Armenians were massacred in 1915-16, whether it
is referred to as genocide or not. A formula will be found for Turkey
to acknowledge the massacres, because it has to be found. Turkey will
have to acknowledge the mass killings with the right to invoke the
circumstances which led to such events. Armenian insistence on the
massacres being recognized as genocide is one of the the main
obstacles to conciliation between the two sides.
The Cyprus conflict has its roots in the Greek demands for `enosis'
(unification with Greece) and Turkish demands for `taksim' (partition)
of the island. The possibility of war cannot be excluded. The problem
can be finally resolved if: the European Union accepts Turkey as full
member, following its reconciliation with the Kurds; the EU and others
recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC); and Cyprus
becomes a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with equality between the
two sides and joins the EU. (For details of Galtung's analyses see:
`50 Years: 100 Peace & Conflict Perspectives,' Bergen: Transcend
University Press, 2008.)
Galtung's assumptions and assessments concerning `diagnosis --
prognosis and therapy' for each of the conflicts above may surely be
challenged. I have no doubts, however, on the soundness of his method.
I entirely agree with him that it is impossible to resolve conflicts
without identifying the causes by rational analysis, examining the
current and possible consequences and first putting forward a solution
based on ethical principles that is acceptable to all sides involved.
Turkey's experiences surely confirm that the unresolved conflicts the
country is party to emanate from failures to apply a method of
resolution along the lines suggested by Galtung.
I cannot end without strongly recommending Galtung's recent commentary
on whether freedom of expression is compatible with freedom to insult
that what is held to be sacred. (See: `Freedom of Expression = Freedom
to Insult?' Transcend Media Service, Oct. 1, 2012.)
From: A. Papazian