Ultras: The Surprise Kids Of Turkey’s Uprising

Taking inspiration from the “Arab Spring” label, Western colleagues were quick to name “the Gezi Park uprising” that broke out in Istanbul and instantly spread across Turkey as a “Turkish Spring.” According to Le Monde, “the people were awakening against Erdogan’s authoritarian regime.” It was Istanbul’s white night. The Guardian said the protests were sowing “the seeds of a Turkish spring.” In Russia, Izvestiya said “the Turkish Spring has started in Istanbul,” while Kommersant, also recalling the Arab Spring, highlighted one difference: “While secular regimes were the target of uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, Turkey’s protesters are demanding the resignation of the Islamist Erdogan.” Germany’s Der Tagesspiegel also opted for the “Turkish spring” label.

Uprising of dignity

The Turkish media hardly heeded the “Turkish spring” description. Let’s set it straight: There is no way to compare Turkey to the Arab regimes that got rid of their dictators. In Turkey, “the people settle scores at the ballot box” is the deep-established political motto that stands in the way of popular rebellion as a means of voicing grievances. The problem in the country stems from the fact that an elected leader, emboldened by the rosy outlook of the economy and the popular support he enjoys, has grown increasingly authoritarian, reducing democracy to a majoritarian rule and imposing his ambitions on others with a mentality that he could do whatever he likes. In the words of Professor Ahmet Insel, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan fanned this “uprising of dignity” by calling the protesters “hoodlums.” The revolt certainly has common features with the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia — especially that apolitical youths with no organizational affiliations took to the streets for the first time to confront the police.

From apolitical fanaticism to pivot of revolt