The Sinking Ship AKP And The Istanbul Canal
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International Bulletin / Issue 206 / January 2020

The AKP emerged almost two decades ago under the conditions of an economic, political and social crisis. The economic crisis in which Turkey is now and the concrete effects of which have been observable for almost a year is exacerbating and getting out of control. It is assumed that the crisis will extend over a few years and has the potential to put an end to the „legend" AKP.

When we talk about an AKP economic model, it is difficult to talk about anything other than construction projects. All public companies, agriculture and nature have been squandered to the international monopolies and their collaborators; huge transport and construction projects as well as the transfer of public funds to capital have become the hallmarks of the AKP's economic miracle.

The pillars that ensured the palace's social legitimacy were shaken by the defeats of fascism in Rojava, the Gezi uprising in 2013 and the electoral defeat of June 7, 2015. However, by coping with the crisis through chauvinism, war and fascist aggression, the regime was able to compensate for the weakening of its social base. However, this possibility of fascism is disappearing more and more with the economic crisis.

Pressure from the economic crisis has brought about the end of the „economic miracle", the only pillar that keeps the palace alive.

The economic crisis not only disintegrates the power of the palace regime, but also the social support that should be maintained through chauvinism.

The recent discussion about the Istanbul Canal, an ecological destruction project, is of greater importance when viewed on this basis. This „crazy project", which was launched as a vision of the „reign" of the AKP to put its stamp on the city, has become a symbol of the new war in the palace.

A period of the palace regime, which has been characterized by playing for balance in the struggle for hegemony between America and Russia, is currently ending. The regime's goal was to take geopolitical advantage from the imperialist contradictions associated with international agreements on the Istanbul Canal (Montreux Agreement). Alternative routes to the Black Sea should be created under their own control.

The Canal should provide NATO with a tool of weakening Russia's growing influence, and a new geopolitical balance policy should be found.

The regime also tried to participate in the escalating trade war between the imperialist centers.

The cost of the Canal, which is estimated 200 to 300 billion, should create new resources through investments that guarantee capital flow and reduce the pressure caused by the economic crisis.

Millions of trees will be felled as a result of the project, the project area will be opened for construction, the respiratory pipes of Istanbul will be closed, the groundwater will be looted and extreme ecological destruction will be caused.

By disrupting the natural balance of the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, a process is being initiated that will have short, medium and long-term consequences. Whole species will die out, the smell of rotten eggs will spread across Istanbul.

Today, the Istanbul Canal is the trademark for all economic, ecological and social crises of Turkish fascism. The fascist chief clings to the project with all his might and it is therefore not to be expected that it will be abandoned so quickly. The only force that can stop this multi-destruction project is the anger of the masses that will arise in every way. And the tension increases along with the potential associated with it. The palace and its opponents are polarizing on both sides of the Istanbul Canal discussion.

The Mayor of Istanbul Imamoglu and his CHP dominate the opposition to the palace on this issue. The CHP's relationship to this process is to take advantage of social polarization to strengthen its position in the elections.

In this polarization, the toiling left must form as quickly as possible and organize a line that is suitable for exploiting this new potential. A line of resistance that is organized in various forms, as we did during the forums in the Gezi uprising on the streets and in the public sessions on the no-referendum against fascism will strengthen the revolutionary front.

It is important to organize the will on the street and to establish this policy within the movement. The Istanbul Canal is the next planned ecological destruction strike by fascism, which will meet with resistance. As with the Gezi Uprising in 2013, when the rage over felled trees in a park in the heart of Istanbul exploded into a nationwide uprising against fascism, the Istanbul Canal also offers the opportunity to become the tomb of fascism, because Istanbul is a metropolis of struggle.
 

 

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The Sinking Ship AKP And The Istanbul Canal
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International Bulletin / Issue 206 / January 2020

The AKP emerged almost two decades ago under the conditions of an economic, political and social crisis. The economic crisis in which Turkey is now and the concrete effects of which have been observable for almost a year is exacerbating and getting out of control. It is assumed that the crisis will extend over a few years and has the potential to put an end to the „legend" AKP.

When we talk about an AKP economic model, it is difficult to talk about anything other than construction projects. All public companies, agriculture and nature have been squandered to the international monopolies and their collaborators; huge transport and construction projects as well as the transfer of public funds to capital have become the hallmarks of the AKP's economic miracle.

The pillars that ensured the palace's social legitimacy were shaken by the defeats of fascism in Rojava, the Gezi uprising in 2013 and the electoral defeat of June 7, 2015. However, by coping with the crisis through chauvinism, war and fascist aggression, the regime was able to compensate for the weakening of its social base. However, this possibility of fascism is disappearing more and more with the economic crisis.

Pressure from the economic crisis has brought about the end of the „economic miracle", the only pillar that keeps the palace alive.

The economic crisis not only disintegrates the power of the palace regime, but also the social support that should be maintained through chauvinism.

The recent discussion about the Istanbul Canal, an ecological destruction project, is of greater importance when viewed on this basis. This „crazy project", which was launched as a vision of the „reign" of the AKP to put its stamp on the city, has become a symbol of the new war in the palace.

A period of the palace regime, which has been characterized by playing for balance in the struggle for hegemony between America and Russia, is currently ending. The regime's goal was to take geopolitical advantage from the imperialist contradictions associated with international agreements on the Istanbul Canal (Montreux Agreement). Alternative routes to the Black Sea should be created under their own control.

The Canal should provide NATO with a tool of weakening Russia's growing influence, and a new geopolitical balance policy should be found.

The regime also tried to participate in the escalating trade war between the imperialist centers.

The cost of the Canal, which is estimated 200 to 300 billion, should create new resources through investments that guarantee capital flow and reduce the pressure caused by the economic crisis.

Millions of trees will be felled as a result of the project, the project area will be opened for construction, the respiratory pipes of Istanbul will be closed, the groundwater will be looted and extreme ecological destruction will be caused.

By disrupting the natural balance of the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, a process is being initiated that will have short, medium and long-term consequences. Whole species will die out, the smell of rotten eggs will spread across Istanbul.

Today, the Istanbul Canal is the trademark for all economic, ecological and social crises of Turkish fascism. The fascist chief clings to the project with all his might and it is therefore not to be expected that it will be abandoned so quickly. The only force that can stop this multi-destruction project is the anger of the masses that will arise in every way. And the tension increases along with the potential associated with it. The palace and its opponents are polarizing on both sides of the Istanbul Canal discussion.

The Mayor of Istanbul Imamoglu and his CHP dominate the opposition to the palace on this issue. The CHP's relationship to this process is to take advantage of social polarization to strengthen its position in the elections.

In this polarization, the toiling left must form as quickly as possible and organize a line that is suitable for exploiting this new potential. A line of resistance that is organized in various forms, as we did during the forums in the Gezi uprising on the streets and in the public sessions on the no-referendum against fascism will strengthen the revolutionary front.

It is important to organize the will on the street and to establish this policy within the movement. The Istanbul Canal is the next planned ecological destruction strike by fascism, which will meet with resistance. As with the Gezi Uprising in 2013, when the rage over felled trees in a park in the heart of Istanbul exploded into a nationwide uprising against fascism, the Istanbul Canal also offers the opportunity to become the tomb of fascism, because Istanbul is a metropolis of struggle.