GP:Narrow-Minded Nationalism and Conservatism
"The Cem Uzan movement is based on heroism. In 1991, Suleyman Demirel too had the slogan: 'We will ask for an account,' and thus used heroism very effectively."
Bianet has talked to Prof. Dr. Nilufer Narli about GP, its supporters and its election campaign. Narli is the head of the Sociology Department at the School of Literature at Marmara University.
What is Young Party?
GP is a party of the extreme right wing. The party not only reproduces the extreme right's speeches, but it also blends in the attitude of extreme left by being against the International Monetary Fund (IMF). GP takes advantage of the public's fear of outsiders.
The nationalist and religious attitude of GP excites the ignored, isolated and frustrated youth. GP is able to reach out to large masses through a narrow-minded nationalism and a religious conservatism that does not threaten secularism.
Does GP have a main target audience?
Its main target audience is the youth. The youth, which constitutes an important fraction of Turkey's population, is not politically represented. So, even the fact that the party's name is "Young Party," is very important. GP appeals to young people of middle and lower classes, and those who cannot take advantage of the country's education and employment opportunities. The party promises them free books, free university education, free land and also to ask for an account for all the illegalities in the government.
The young population constitutes an important source of votes. The latest population count indicated that there are 3 million 800 thousand voters in the country. It is important that this party has encouraged the young people of ages 18-21 to register to vote, integrated them into its base policies and ensured their political participation by bringing them under its youth groups.
The political parties in Turkey have neglected the young people. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) have paid attention to the youth to a certain degree. But now, GP is organizing the youth and spending effort to register them as voters. And most importantly, GP, by addressing their frustration and anger, channels their agitation into politics.
What attracts people to GP?
The slogans are very important. At least a few of the four or five slogans Uzan keeps repeating are definitely remembered. For example, he says that he will "eradicate" poverty. He promises to distribute books and land for free, to dismiss IMF and increase ten times the number of universities in the country.
Here is a new and young individual who has just entered politics. He opposes IMF. He addresses everyone who is worried about "divisive behavior," who, with a narrow-minded nationalism, ponders about the country's problems and describes himself/herself as a religious conservative. He effectively uses these symbols in all his communications and speeches. This way, he is able to get the support of the youth and many people of different ages.
The latest opinion polls indicate that GP is one of the parties that will get enough votes to pass the 10 percent threshold needed to be represented in the parliament. Considering that GP is a new party, what is your opinion about this picture?
First of all, they effectively utilize communications technology. For example, Joy FM continuously broadcasts the party's agenda in a news format. The people who own a cellular phone operated by Uzan's Telsim receive messages informing them of the nearest campaign locations. This way, they channel the people and attract them to locations where they deliver their political speeches. So, people feel like they are being paid attention to, and thus have more interest in the party.
Uzan says, "we will ask for an account," "we will ask for an account for all these illegalities." And in Uzan's words, people find the reflection their own anger, their own displeasure for the current system, and their own frustration. Uzan is channeling the anger and frustration of people into politics, presenting to the people the important issues addressed before by the right and left wing parties, as if they are brand-new, and aims to establish a political formation that includes large masses.
There are people among GP's supporters, who say, "We are proud of the fact that Uzan racketeered the American Motorola Company." What do you say?
This represents their anti-American, anti-capitalist and anti-globalization views. They are applauding a Turk who has achieved victory over the United States of America (USA), by allegedly racketeering an American company, Motorola. Because to people, Motorola is a symbol representing the USA's economic power. Uzan has indirectly hurt USA's economic power, and this earns him points.
He utilizes the communications technology. But he also touches and embraces people. He mobilizes people into taking action.
GP, from time to time seems to employ the techniques and symbols used by the extreme rightists in Europe and other countries from right before Second World War to this day, to mobilize people. What do you think?
Yes, this is generally true. But there is also an important difference. Through communications technology, he can deliver his slogans to people much faster. It is important to realize how Uzan used communication technologies to elevate support for his party.
Also, GP started to take action long before the elections. The GP leader used to organize meetings before the parliament decided to hold early elections. Of course, with the decision to hold early elections, the meetings and efforts were accelerated.
If we consider the supporters of GP, may we make the connection of "isolation," similar to what happened at the latest elections in Europe?
Yes we may. He is appealing to the frustrated lower class, the unemployed at the coffee shops, the hopeless youth, the ones that did not integrate into the system, and the marginal who have been exposed to social isolation. And most importantly, he organizes their anger and turns it into a political gain.
Would these people be interested in the elections if GP did not exist?
They would have voted for MHP and some would have voted for AKP. They would have also voted for the left-wing parties that do not upset secularism and have a nationalist approach.
Some people think that there are similarities between the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Cem Uzan. From being a media mogul to being a prime minister you know. Do you think Cem Uzan has such goals? Or what do you think motivates him?
In fact, the way they entered politics is alike. But the political atmosphere and structure in Italy cannot be compared to Turkey's political atmosphere and structure. Italy is a developed country that has overcome debates over its regime. Italians react to migrants.
In Turkey people react to a number of social groups and classes because of deep structural contradictions that exist within the country. Besides, worries about perceived outsider enemies and their partners in Turkey, increase the political agitation. Uzan talks about this agitation. Of course, we still do not know what motivates him. (NM/EA/NM)