Köprü Anasayfa

Güneydoğu'daki Etnik Problemler Ve Çözüm Arayışları

"Bahar 2007" 98. Sayı

  • Ethnic Problems in South-east and Solution Approachs

    Editorial

    The concepts of East and South-east signify a geographical region and direction in our minds. However, they mark in our ideological and political lives different areas. Our country is an important part of the Middle East, which is one of the bloodiest regions of the world. In the Eastern and South-eastern regions of our land occur many turbulent events in recent years. Furthermore, the rise of deadlock concerning these two regions draws our attention to this problem.

    Some people think that South-eastern question is an issue of the backwardness and human rights, for some others it is a component of the crisis in the Middle East. However, the recent denomination of the issue as "Kurdish Question" displays different thresholds. To discuss the South-eastern problem will bring together various issues as "nation-state, nationalims, Middle East, terror, education, religion". In addition to these, many other issues as "regional backwarness, the inequity in income distribution, landholding system" can be discussed around this issue. While trying to find solutions to such complicated issues, the ultimate reasons lying in the historical background should not be forgotten and the cultural values, beliefs, socio-economic and socio-psychological conditions in this region should be considered seriously.

    Bediüzzaman's approach in this issue and his arguments for solutions are very important since he is acquainted with the internal dynamic of this region in individual and social level. Hundred years ago, Bediüzzaman came to Istanbul to draw attention to the problems of this region and to find permanent solutions for them. The current situation as not having permanent solutions for the problems in the regions shows us both the profundity of the issue, on the one hand; and that unawareness of Bediüzzaman's experience. Thus, Bediüz-zaman's attempts to produce a number of solutions based on the religious, historical, socio-cultural and socio-psychological realities are very noteworthy: he blocked ethnic discussions while emphasizing the "Islam nationality", he remarked the possibility of a peaceful coexistence or different trends and groups with special reference to the unifying function of religion, he targeted the essence of the issue while preparing educational projects.

    Another considerable point is that this issue may be one of the possible heads on the way to EU for Turkey. It seems not to be possible to consider the "South-Eastern Question" apart from the dimension of "democratization process". This question should be discussed under the normative frame of rule of law even though the "terror" dimension complicated the circumstances.

    Bearing all of these in mind, we determined the dossier subject in or 98th issue as "Ethnic Problems in South-east and Solution Approachs". We planned to discuss the issue under the conceptual framework of "East, South-East, Middle East, nation-state, nationalism, terror, Turk-Kurd, meta-identity, sub-identity, citizenship, education, religion, language, rule of law, democratization, European Union" and ask the following questions:

    What is the South-Eastern problem essentially? In which direction should some cultural and political solutions be undertaken? What are the general reasons in the continuation of the problems in this region during the Republican Period? What are the impacts of the nation-state structure, authoritarian approaches and attitudes upon the region which have been implemented since the establishment of the Republic? What are the consequences of the the politics substitution of religion with the phonemona of nation? What can be the main reasons of terror in this region? How can we analyze this region sociologically? What are the characteristic features of this region? Is there a real Kurdish question, or is this issue an artificial political issue to serve some other benefits? What can be the socio-economic and political results of the Kurdish-Turkish polarization and conflict? How should we analyze the receipt of "art, knowledge, alliance" suggested by Bediüzzaman against the diseases of "ignorance, necessity, conflict"? What is the regional significance of the project of "Medresetü’z-zehra" which is a university model merging religious and natural sciences into each other proposed by Bediüzzaman after considering socio-cultural structure of the region? At this point, how can we overcome the burden of the discussions on language? What is the role and importance of religion for the regions considering the high religiosity of the regional population? What kind of measures could be taken to pass the problem of the mutual insensitivity between the population and governors in this region which is shown as one of the most important reasons of disquiet in the region? How will the EU process influence this issue? What is the significance of the actualization of rule of law at this point?

    We believe that our authors try to give persuasive answers to these questions to find some ways for the solution of this problem. This dossier will provide with important expansions for our intellectual world and for those who are dealing to solve this problem. One of the common point stressed by the authors in this issue is the irrelevancy of the official nationalism and "laicism" policies practiced until today. We need to benefit from the historical and religious experiences of Kurds and Turks on their centuries long success in peaceful coexistence. Some new policies should be executed to achieve the fusion of state and population in this region while considering those experiences. For this sake, the most important step for solution should be directed towards "democracy".

    We hope to meet you again in our 99th issue with the dossier subject of "The Religion, State, Politics and Social Relations in Public Sphere".