Turkey

An examination of two documented periods of climate change in the greater Middle East, between approximately 4,500 and 3,000 years ago, reveals local evidence of resilience and even of a flourishing ancient society despite the climate changes seen in the larger region.

Working at Tell Tayinat in southeastern Turkey, archaeologists at the �ؿ�ζSM and Cornell University demonstrate in a new study that human responses to climate change are variable and must be examined using extensive and precise data gathered locally.

The study, published in PLoS ONE this week, highlights how challenge and collapse in some areas were matched by resilience and opportunities elsewhere.

“The study shows the end of the Early Bronze Age occupation at Tayinat was a long and drawn-out affair that, while it appears to coincide with the onset of a megadrought 4,200 years ago, was actually the culmination of processes that began much earlier,” says Tim Harrison, professor and chair of the department of Near and Middle Eastern civilizations in U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science at and director of the Tayinat Archaeological Project. “The archaeological evidence does not point towards significant local effects of the climate episode, as there is no evidence of drought stress in crops.

“Instead, these changes were more likely the result of local political and spatial reconfiguration.”

An aerial view of Tell Tayinat in Hatay, Turkey (photo by M. Akar)

The findings contribute to discussions about human responses to climate change that broaden an otherwise sparse chronological framework for the northern part of the region known historically as the Levant, which stretches the length of the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea.

The mid-to-late Early Bronze Age (3000 to 2000 BCE) and the Late Bronze Age (1600 to 1200 BCE) in the ancient Middle East are pivotal periods of early inter-connectedness among settlements across the region, with the development of some of the earliest cities and state-level societies. But these systems were not always sustainable and both periods ended in collapse of civilisations/settlements. The reasons behind the collapse are highly debated.

The absence of detailed timelines for societal activity throughout the region leaves a significant gap in understanding the associations between climate change and social responses. While the disintegration of political or economic systems are indeed components of a societal response, collapse is rarely total.

Using radiocarbon dating and analysis of archaeological samples recovered from Tell Tayinat, a location occupied following two particularly notable climate change episodes 4,200 years ago and, again, 3,200 years ago, the team of researchers established a robust chronological timeframe for Tayinat for two pivotal periods in the history of the ancient Middle East.

Microscope image of Early Bronze Age ash wood sample from Tell Tayinat in Hatay, Turkey (photo by Brita Lorentzen)

“The absolute dating of these periods has been a subject of considerable debate for many years and this study contributes a significant new dataset that helps address many of the questions,” says Sturt Manning, the Goldwin Smith professor of classical archaeology in the department of classics at Cornell University’s College of Arts & Sciences who is lead author of the study.

“The detailed chronological resolution achieved in this study allows for a more substantive interpretation of the archaeological evidence in terms of local and regional responses to proposed climate change, shedding light on how humans respond to environmental stress and variability.”

The researchers say the chronological framework for the Early Iron Age demonstrates the thriving re-settlement of Tayinat following the event 3,200 years ago during a reconstructed period of heightened aridity.

“The settlement of Tayinat may have been undertaken to maximize access to arable land and crop evidence reveals the continued cultivation of numerous water-demanding crops, revealing a response that counters the picture of a drought-stricken region,” says Harrison. “The Iron Age at Tayinat represents a significant degree of societal resilience during a period of climatic stress.”

The research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, among others.

A former police officer, U of T's Serdar San now studies the Turkish regime that cost him his job

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 16:52:52 +0000

A former police officer, U of T's Serdar San now studies the Turkish regime that cost him his job

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 10/16/2020 - 12:52

Cutline

With the help of U of T's Scholars-at-Risk Fellowship, Serdar San is conducting PhD research on how political upheaval and regime changes have impacted Turkish policing and police – including himself (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Global Lens

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Criminology

Faculty of Arts & Science

Graduate Students

Scholars at Risk

Turkey

Serdar San was well into his PhD in criminology at the �ؿ�ζSM in late 2016 when his research and personal life were turned upside down.

A Turkish National Police lieutenant who originally came to Canada on a Turkish police scholarship, San was suddenly fired from the force as an increasingly authoritarian government in Turkey looked to crack down on its institutions of policing in the wake of a failed military coup.

Not only did the move wipe out San’s career and a decade’s worth of pension contributions, it meant he could no longer travel to Turkey to conduct interviews for his dissertation – a comparative study of counter-terrorism policies in Turkey and Canada with respect to home-grown terrorism – as he risked harassment and the seizure of his passport.

So, with the help of U of T’s Scholars-at-Risk Fellowship, San pivoted his research to a different topic, the importance of which he understands all too well: How political upheaval and regime changes have impacted Turkish policing in recent decades.

“This fellowship will be a great financial support for me in finishing my dissertation, which I strongly believe will both contribute to scholarly understanding of policing but will also help draw scholarly and public attention to the human rights abuses of the current regime in Turkey,” says San.

Awarded by the School of Graduate Studies in a partnership with Massey College, the fellowships award $10,000 to outstanding graduate students who are seeking asylum or refugee status in Canada, or whose study has been impacted by political upheaval in their country of study. It also grants recipients the status of Scholar-at-Risk at Massey College, and appoints them members of Massey College without having to pay a membership fee.

“Joining the Massey College community will help me meet new colleagues in different disciplines and with varying interests and life experiences, which will help me broaden my horizons as well,” San says.

San first came to Canada in August 2013 to pursue a master’s degree in criminology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, with the intention of returning to his policing duties in Turkey after graduation.

However, he later decided to stay in Canada to complete a PhD at U of T under the supervision of Matthew Light, an associate professor of criminology and sociolegal studies and European, Russian and Eurasian studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

San’s decision to extend his stay in Canada was also influenced by turmoil in his home country.

“Things were changing in Turkey during that time after widespread mass protests against the government and increasing authoritarian policies,” he says. “Critics began to be arrested and imprisoned, and they started a crackdown on the police force shortly thereafter, which intensified after the military coup attempt in July 2016.”

He says the government was keen to rid its police forces of democratic-thinking and progressive-minded police officers and replace them with regime loyalists.

“I personally see myself as one of the members of a cohort of younger officers dedicated to raising the professional level of Turkish policing by improving police-community relations and by addressing Turkey’s serious problem of terrorism in a more democratic and rights-respecting manner,” he says. “But after the government’s authoritarianism solidified, these open-minded and more democratic-thinking officers were labelled as traitors ... mostly because they’re critical thinkers.”

As many as 100,000 public servants, including police officers, were fired in the aftermath of the failed 2016 coup, according to the New York Times. San says that, to his knowledge, more than 33,000 police officers have been dismissed from their positions.

“After the purge of thousands of police officers, they immediately recruited new ones who they saw as more loyal in the increasing repression against dissidents, and who would be more helpful in the crackdown.”

It’s only the most recent example of political transitions influencing Turkish policing, according to San. His doctoral research will examine how the relationship between political regimes and police has played out in Turkey over the last 40 years, starting from the period immediately after the 1980 military coup.

“I will explore whether and how different political regime types and political transitions infuse the development of policing, and also how new authoritarian regimes construct or reconstruct their internal security or policing institutions,” says San. “I’m doing this study because I think Turkey is an important case because it has experienced repeated and very dramatic political transitions and changes in policing over the last 40 years.”

Changing his research focus has not been without its challenges. “As a result of my new project, I have had to re-tool as a scholar and familiarize myself with an entirely new scholarly literature, which extends the amount of time I’ll need to complete my doctoral studies,” San says.

“Professor Light has been really helpful and a very good guide and supervisor for me in this project.”

Despite his personal, professional and academic ordeals, San is now squarely focused on continuing his transition from police officer to U of T scholar.

“All the things I’ve lived in the last four or five years have helped me learn how to become a more thoughtful and informed citizen, especially in terms of knowing your rights and liberties and knowing how democracy works,” he says.

“I hope that all this experience – and further experiences that I’ll have with the help of the Scholars-at-Risk Fellowship – will make me a more informed citizen, both in Canada and maybe in a more democratic Turkey in the future.”

'Opened my eyes': U of T undergraduate students visit Turkey, where geology and culture collide

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:00:22 +0000

'Opened my eyes': U of T undergraduate students visit Turkey, where geology and culture collide

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 01/09/2020 - 12:00

Cutline

Among the highlights for Earth sciences participating in the rocks and minerals International/Indigenous Course Module: the daily, early-morning launch of balloons in Göreme,Turkey (photo courtesy Anne Yolland)

Chris Sasaki

Topic

Global Lens

Earth Sciences

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

St. Michael's College

Trinity College

Turkey

Undergraduate Students

Victoria College

To an aspiring geologist, southern Ontario leaves something to be desired since it sits astride the geologically stable Canadian Shield. Not so the Cappadocia region of central Turkey.

“For geologists, Turkey is exciting,” says Professor Russell Pysklywec, chair of the department of Earth sciences in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the �ؿ�ζSM. “It sits on the boundary between two tectonic plates and, as a result, is geologically very active.

“The African plate is moving northward, ramming into the Eurasia plate, and Turkey is right at that boundary where continents are colliding. And they’re still moving and pushing into each other, lifting up mountains and volcanoes and other structures.”

Late last year, Pysklywec and Grant Henderson – also an Earth sciences faculty member – led a group of 13 students to this tectonic region for the department’s rocks and minerals International/Indigenous Course Module (ICM). The faculty’s ICM program gives students an opportunity to enrich their studies with a learning experience outside the country.

Professor Russell Pysklywec (far left) and students explore the underground city of Derinkuyu (photo courtesy Russell Pysklywec)

“In geology, we study how mountains, volcanoes and larger structures like plateaus form,” says Pysklywec. “We also study and sample smaller rocks and minerals with hammers and microscopes. So, it’s a challenge to give students a sense of both the macro and the micro.

“But in the field, standing at the edge of a volcano, you see the macro. And you see the micro when you’re chipping away at a little bit of rock and you look at it through a magnifying lens.

“The ICM trips give students a chance to experience both.”

“It can be difficult learning topics without being able to interact with them fully,” says undergraduate student Danielle McGill, who took part in the trip. “To learn about plate tectonics, geologic formations and mineralogy in a geologically active part of the world in this hands-on way was truly rewarding.” McGill is a member of Trinity College and is enrolled in the environmental geosciences specialist program.

A typical day for the students included hikes to various sites of geological interest. The group saw the three volcanoes – Erciyes, Hasan and Melendiz Dağları – that dominate the region, they explored monasteries carved into the walls of the Ihlara Valley and hiked among the geologically iconic Fairy Chimneys of Gorëme.

But students weren’t in Turkey just to learn about rocks and minerals. They were also there to see how geology is reflected in the culture and history of the region, and how its inhabitants have been influenced by their geological surroundings.

Rock formations known as “fairy chimneys” at Pasabag near the city of Gorëme (photo courtesy Anne Yolland)

“We explored the region through different questions,” says Pysklywec. “Why did people settle in the area? How did they interact with the land? How did the unique geology give rise to unique human habitation?

“For example, volcanoes eject ash and, in time, ash becomes rock. But the rock is soft, and so Cappadocia is dotted with settlements literally carved out of the volcanic layers. There are underground cities in Derinkuyu that go down eight stories, and at one time supported a population of 10,000 people. We climbed through these subterranean cities and examined how they were engineered and what it must have been like to live there.”

In addition to giving students a view of the region’s geology and history, the ICM provided insights into their current and future studies.

“This trip really confirmed that I want to work outdoors and travel,” says Alexander Copeland, a member of St. Michael’s College enrolled in the environmental geosciences specialist program. “I’m still not sure whether I want to pursue a career in academia or industry, but I definitely want to see the world – and Earth sciences is a great field for that.”

Domestic dwellings carved into volcanic rock in the Rose Valley near Göreme, Turkey (photo courtesy Alexander Copeland)

Nicole Freij, a member of Victoria College working toward a specialist degree in geology, found similar food for thought on the trip.

“My experience in Turkey definitely provided me with ideas about my future studies,” she says. “It gave me the chance to explore where my interests lie within the field. And now I have more of a sense of which Earth science courses to take and which research projects I might take on.”

It was the same for McGill. “This experience has solidified my interest in geology,” she says. “It’s opened my eyes to plate tectonics and I’m now looking forward to taking a fourth-year Earth science course on global tectonics.”

For Pysklywec, the benefits of such an experience run even deeper than helping students in their studies and in making academic decisions.

“Having these trips out into the field – especially early in someone’s academic life – helps them form relationships with other students and helps build a strong student community. It helps them get to know faculty.

“What’s more, it’s a transformative experience,” he says. “If you want to create passionate students, give them experiences like this.”

'You will be one step ahead': Students from Turkey on why they chose U of T

noreen.rasbach — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 15:27:02 +0000

'You will be one step ahead': Students from Turkey on why they chose U of T

noreen.rasbach Thu, 01/24/2019 - 10:27

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Selin Eksioglu says she chose U of T over other Canadian schools because of U of T’s global reputation and the range of opportunities it offers (all photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Cansu Aydemir

Topic

Global Lens

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

Graduate Students

International Students

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Undergraduate Students

Varsity Blues

The number of Turkish students at the �ؿ�ζSM may still be relatively small – they accounted for just 223 of U of T's approximately 21,000 international students in 2018 – but their numbers can be expected to grow.

More than 1,000 prospective students from Turkey applied to U of T last year, drawn by U of T's global reputation, high ranking and Canada's welcoming multicultural environment.

“I knew that it was one of the best 20 schools in the world,” says Selin Gur, a fourth-year student at U of T Mississauga. “There are no words to explain my excitement when I received the acceptance letter from U of T.”

In order to better understand the many facets of U of T's international student experience, Cansu Aydemir – herself a student from Turkey and an intern at U of T News – recently spoke with several students from Turkey about their studies, life on campus and what drew them to the university.

When Deniz Nalbantoglu finished high school in Istanbul, she says she had two options: study in Canada or the United States.

Nalbantoglu says she chose Canada because she felt the country was more open and welcoming towards international students. She chose to study at U of T because of its global reputation and ranking.

Now in her second year of studying industrial engineering, Nalbantoglu says today she has two homes.

“Home for me is where my family is and that’s why Turkey – Istanbul – is home, but Toronto is my second home since I have a different kind of family here, with my friends,” says Nalbantoglu.

For someone who “always aimed to be efficient in every part of my life, even in small tasks,” industrial engineering has been a great fit, Nalbantoglu says. She loves the discipline’s emphasis on productivity and efficiency, and says the field offers many opportunities, including in management.

“I didn’t want to limit myself – and in industrial engineering there is no limit,” she says. “I don’t want to sit in an office all day and work with numbers. Industrial engineering is something that would allow me to use my social skills.”

Engineering has challenged her, and helped her grow, she says.

“At U of T, I started to clearly see what I can and can’t do. For the first time in my life, I feel that I’ve achieved things. Back in Turkey, I have family – they always help – but here I am alone and I have to do everything by myself; stand on my own feet. I believe U of T made me more independent and boosted my self-confidence.”

Asked about her favourite things in Canada and Toronto, she says, “people,” without hesitation.

“It is very easy to communicate with people here,” Nalbantoglu says. “People are very respectful, tolerant and helpful.”

Zeynep Sanem Bekci knew she wanted to study in Canada – and U of T was at the top of her list.

Bekci, who hails from the Aegean coast city of Izmir, is now in her second year at U of T’s Trinity College, specializing in biochemistry and minoring in immunology.

“It is a great country to live,” she says. “It’s home for many immigrants and that’s why people are very open-minded here.”

The academic opportunities at U of T were another big factor, she says.

“U of T offers many more opportunities than Turkish schools, especially for the subject that I study,” Bekci says, adding that she is receiving significantly more lab experience here.

”I can go and talk with my professors and see these labs; I can do internships at these labs. I think it is one of the major pros of U of T,” says Bekci.

She also appreciates all the opportunities students have to stay active on campus, like playing intramural volleyball and attending yoga classes.

Although she misses home – and of course, Turkish food – Bekci says she is happy with her new life here in Canada.

“The pretentiousness that you see in other countries, you don't see that here. People are more friendly and nicer. They help a lot too. When I have an issue, I know that once I ask someone, they answer, they help.”

She encourages other Turkish students who are thinking about applying to U of T to take the step – so long as they don’t mind the cold.

“I know it is far and the weather is different than what we are used to in Turkey, but it is a great country to live in, the city is great and the school is great. The school teaches you everything and offers many opportunities. If you don’t mind the winters, it is just perfect.”

After studying in French schools in Turkey for 13 years, Selin Gur says she realized she needed to pursue the “global language” of English in university.

She didn’t know too much about Toronto, except that it was home to Drake. But she knew of U of T’s global reputation – and says she applied without expecting too much.

Now at U of T Mississauga, studying digital enterprise management, Gur says the early days were challenging. “You can’t go and visit your family and friends randomly when you live in a place that has a seven hour time difference with your home.”

Alone, and facing a significant language barrier, Gur found frosh week to be a big help. The atmosphere was inclusive – and definitely global.

“In Canada, everyone helps each other, without expecting anything in exchange. The most common words are ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry.’ People are nice, they are open and welcoming. In such an inclusive environment, it is impossible to feel like an outsider.”

“More importantly, you don’t only see Americans or Canadians here; there are people from all around the world, India, Pakistan, China, Russia, France, South Korea ... It is a multicultural heaven.”

She says she has enjoyed living in residence and using the pool and fitness centre at U of T Mississauga, but she notes that her years at U of T have been rigorous.

”There is a reason why they call U of T ‘the Harvard of Canada,’” Gur says. “You might face more hardships than your other friends back in Turkey. You definitely won’t be able to see your loved ones whenever you want, but it will make you stronger, more responsible and mature.

“You will be one step ahead. Toronto, as a multicultural city, will change your worldview and expand your vision. During my first days in Toronto, I was too shy to say ‘hi’ to others. And now, here I am.”

Selin Eksioglu was born in Canada and lived here until she was three, while her father pursued his PhD in Quebec. Although the family ultimately returned to Istanbul, she always knew she’d be back.

“I think my parents regretted [leaving] and I think they keep asking, ‘What if we stayed?’ So for me and for my two brothers, we were raised with the idea of going to Canada.”

Eksioglu says she chose U of T over other Canadian schools because of U of T’s global reputation and the range of opportunities it offers.

Now in her fourth year at U of T Scarborough and majoring in political science with minors in history and sociology, Eksioglu says transitioning from a very small high school to a huge university in a different country was a challenge at the beginning. But getting involved in life on campus really helped.

“I’ve lived in residence and they had a lot of opportunities to get involved – they had many events, which made me feel better,” she says.

It took a while for Eksioglu to find her way. She started her studies in business administration but hit her stride after switching to political science.

“We talk about current events and apply the theories that we’ve learned,” she says, adding the program is as rewarding as it is challenging.

“I was not used to being asked to think about something in so many ways, to build up my own arguments, and provide evidence,” she says. “U of T has given me a whole new perspective.”

Over the years, Eksioglu says she found the more she engaged with people, the better her experience.

“In U of T, you have the opportunity to research, observe or examine anything you wish and anything you want. There is always a professor who will help you through, there is always a professor doing research, there are events, student clubs. So everyone does something, the school always puts something forward for everyone else to join.”

Alara Demirag wanted to be a professional tennis player until the age of 14, when she realized she had a passion for “creating something” and decided to become an architect.

Now in her third year at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Demirag is specializing in the technology stream of architectural studies.

“I saw the opportunities here,” Demirag says. “The job options are really good and the school has academically good standing.”

Tennis has also remained a key part of her life – and U of T’s tennis team was a big pull-factor, she says.

When she was first applying to universities, Demirag considered going to the U.S., but felt that being a college athlete would be a huge challenge there. At U of T, she believed, she could find a balance between her studies and tennis.

The Varsity team has helped her build a home.

“We have so many international players like me; they see you as a family member,” she says.

Although Demirag is from Istanbul, she graduated from an American high school. She says U of T’s ranking and global reputation were well known at the school, but she still had questions.

“I am coming from another culture, how am I going to communicate with them? How will they respond to me? Will I be able to make my jokes to them? How they will react?”

She says she found her answers quickly.

“People are really friendly, the place is very multicultural which is really amazing, and they treat people really nicely,” she says, adding that U of T has proven to be a place where “you can change yourself, create a new individual out of yourself, you can reach your potential here.”

Toronto is home now, Demirag says, but she connects with friends when she’s home for the holidays.

“I miss my friends, but they are mostly studying abroad; so Turkey is kind of the meeting point for us now,” Demirag says.

After she finished her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Nazli Eser Kaya chose Canada to pursue her master’s degree in mechanical and industrial engineering. Her research focuses on driver distraction and attention.

“I’m really interested in people; what makes them think the way they do, what motivates them to behave the way they behave, and how their lives can be made easier through a simpler design,” Kaya says. “Human factors engineering aims to design systems that leverage the capabilities of human operators while compensating for their limitations.

“My research focuses on driver attention and distraction at urban intersections by utilizing a state-of-the-art instrumented vehicle and eye-tracking equipment. For road safety, an in-depth approach based on human-centred design is a necessity.”

A fluent German-speaker, Kaya applied to German universities but U of T offered a scholarship and the opportunity to be a teaching assistant.

“U of T engineering is one of the top schools among the worldwide universities,” Kaya says. “Also, U of T and Toronto are so international – that makes me feel so comfortable, and that is not the case in Europe, for example.”

Kaya has been in Toronto for more than a year and says the diversity makes it easy to feel at home.

“People don’t judge you based on your religion or ethnicity,” Kaya says. “Me being Muslim or Turkish doesn’t affect how people perceive me.”

Kaya says she has benefited from support offered to graduate students.

“Since I came here, I have completed a lot of certificate programs, been involved with our department’s graduate association – and there are so many networking activities, too, and they helped me a lot.

“Because I don’t know many people here, I have to build connections and also do some networking to find a job after I graduate.”

Students who are thinking of applying to U of T, but do not trust their English levels, should go for it, Kaya says.

“Don’t be scared. I have taken many academic writing classes here for free; U of T gives a lot of resources to improve language skills.”

International student Cansu Aydemir is an intern at U of T News. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in Toronto since 2012 and is now in her fourth year of studies at U of T where she is specializing in history and minoring in diaspora and transnational studies.

Turkey referendum follows global shift to the right: U of T historian compares the Erdoğan win to Trump and Brexit

ullahnor — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 16:06:27 +0000

Turkey referendum follows global shift to the right: U of T historian compares the Erdoğan win to Trump and Brexit

ullahnor Wed, 04/19/2017 - 12:06

Cutline

A man holds a marked ballot paper showing two 'my choice' (Tercih) stamps in the 'No' (Hayir) leaving the 'Yes' (Evet) section blank (photo by Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)

Noreen Ahmed-Ullah

Author legacy

Noreen Ahmed-Ullah

Topic

Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's referendum win earlier this week which has expanded his hold on power, members of Turkey’s political opposition were arrested in dawn raids today.

Erdogan has claimed a narrow 51.4 per cent to 48.6 per cent victory in the referendum, and protesters have been marching in the streets against what they're calling a rigged election. Lawyers and relatives of the detained told The New York Times that at least 38 people accused of participating in the protests were rounded up Wednesday morning or issued arrest warrants.

Jens Hanssen, an associate professor of Arab Civilization at the �ؿ�ζSM Mississauga and modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean history at U of T's downtown Toronto campus, says the narrow win is “reminiscent” of the Brexit referendum and the American elections last year.

U of T News spoke with Hanssen about Turkey's future and the similarities between Erdoğan, U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and France's Marine Le Pen.

What do you think these results mean for Turkey?

The constitutional referendum on Sunday has clearly split the Turkish public. The narrow victory of the ‘Yes’ camp is reminiscent of the Brexit referendum and the American elections last year. There also appear to be parallels regarding the demographic composition of each vote. Residents in major Turkish cities voted for the existing parliamentary system and the rural population generally for the adoption of a presidential system.

Whereas in the U.K. and U.S. the victories for the leave-campaign and Donald Trump came as a surprise if not shock to the system, the real surprise in Turkey was just how close the vote was, and how valiantly the democratic forces campaigned in the face of intimidation and reprisals.

Recall the June 2015 parliamentary election which saw Erdoğan’s “Justice and Development Party” (the AKP) lose its majority for the first time since coming to power in 2002. Unhappy with the result, Erdoğan held another, snap election for November 2015, launched major military offensives against the Kurdish region and criminalized the progressive parties that had gained popularity.

These elections restored his party’s majority but political violence spiraled. Since the coup attempt in July 2016 and the subsequent emergency laws that have just been extended for another three months, Erdoğan has purged tens of thousands of politicians, bureaucrats and military officers in an unprecedented form of Turkish “Gleichschaltung.” His government has arrested scores of journalists, closed independent media outlets and banned art exhibits and cultural festivals. Hundreds of Turkish academics have been jailed, many for signing the Academics for Peace Petition that I and many others in the U of T community also signed at the time, which called on the government to end its crackdowns targeting Kurds.

The signs are worrying. A new form of political system is spreading across the planet. In my view, the points of comparison are right-wing take-overs in the U.S., the U.K. and perhaps soon in France. In all cases, the xenophobe rhetoric of their supporters glosses the now familiar process of accumulating political power for the purpose of economic appropriation.

What will Turkey look like with Erdogan maintaining a stronger grip on power?

Against this background of a near-total gutting the once-thriving Turkish civil society, the referendum was supposed to facilitate Erdoğan’s anti-democratic policies for the ‘greater good’ of national unity. Instead, Turkey’s political and economic future looks more ominous than ever. Erdoğan now has the formal democratic mandate to unhinge the checks and balances between the executive, legislative and juridical levels, and at age 63, is set to rule for possibly two decades – without the approval of parliament, if necessary.

Do you think the results are accurate?

Yes, the vote count appears to be accurate. But we are receiving mounting evidence of irregularities both from international election observers and the opposition parties.

Moreover, under current law – which the referendum is supposed to cancel – the president of the Turkish Republic should not have participated in the election campaign and remain above party politics. Instead, this referendum has been all about Erdoğan. I suspect nothing will come of the protests since much of the independent judiciary has already been purged. In fact, the mood in Turkey is somber, even Erdoğan supporters are not celebrating that much. This is a result that no-one wanted, in a sense.

What will this mean for the region and stability in the area?

The EU and NATO are unlikely to do much. Both are too dependent on Turkey, not least because Erdoğan is using the specter of Middle Eastern refugees as political blackmail. He will keep bombing Kurds, and all kinds of militants will seek to destabilize Turkey and provoke Erdoğan to escalate the violence at home and abroad.

How do you feel about Trump making the first congratulatory call to Erdoğan?

Trump and Erdoğan are very similar, so are Putin, Netanyahu and Marine Le Pen.

So we are facing an albeit disunited authoritarian front globally. Democracies are being highjacked by chauvinists who will militarize their economies and cause mayhem in their countries and internationally. Things will get a lot worse before this phase has run its destructive course.

"The military coup was destined to fail": U of T experts on Turkey

vzaretski — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 19:39:38 +0000

"The military coup was destined to fail": U of T experts on Turkey

vzaretski Mon, 07/18/2016 - 15:39

Cutline

Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Veronica Zaretski

Author legacy

Veronica Zaretski

Topic

Global Lens

Turkey

Faculty of Arts & Science

Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations, Department of

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:17 +0000

Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations, Department of sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

URL

https://www.nmc.utoronto.ca

Why Canada should accept 100,000 refugees and help “knock ISIS off its pedestal”

sgupta — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 07:22:25 +0000

Why Canada should accept 100,000 refugees and help “knock ISIS off its pedestal” sgupta Tue, 12/01/2015 - 02:22

Cutline

Withdrawing from the bombing of ISIS is “playing to the quaint Canadian delusion that we make peace while other, morally inferior, nations make war,” Professor Hansen says (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Alan Christie

Author legacy

Alan Christie

The increasing desperation of refugees in Turkey

sgupta — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 12:27:35 +0000

The increasing desperation of refugees in Turkey sgupta Mon, 11/16/2015 - 07:27

Cutline

Syrian refugee in Ankara, Turkey (photo by Volkan_83 via flickr)

Terry Lavender

Author legacy

Terry Lavender

Topic

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

International

Research

Subheadline

Young adults are vulnerable, says U of T student Alizee Zapparoli-Manzoni-Bodson

Images of Syrian refugees trudging wearily along roads or clinging precariously as their boats are buffeted by the waves are all too familiar to people in Europe and North America.

But the thousands of refugees trying to get to Europe are just some of the millions who have been displaced in the Middle East and elsewhere in recent years.

Turkey alone is home to more than two million refugees, many of whom have been languishing there for decades, says U of T student Alizee Zapparoli-Manzoni-Bodson. And they’re not just from Syria – Turkey is overwhelmed by asylum-seekers from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Somalia as well, she says.

Zapparoli-Manzoni-Bodson first went to Turkey to study Iranian asylum-seekers as a diaspora and transnational studies undergraduate student in 2013. Now a student in the one-year collaborative program in diaspora and transnational studies and Near and Middle Eastern civilizations (and with her eye on the doctoral program), Zapparoli-Manzoni-Bodson has gone back to Turkey every year since then and will return next April to continue her research.

She talked to a variety of refugees, including political activists, LGBT, Christians, Baha’is and Azeris.

“Currently, Iranian asylum-seekers are limited to temporary stay in Turkey while they apply for refugee status abroad, creating a protracted state of limbo, sometimes lasting up to three years. During this time they are unable to work, or pursue education. With limited rights and financial difficulties this period of transit is extremely difficult,” she says.

Since her initial studies, she’s expanded her focus to include Syrian and Palestinian refugees. The latter are the most concern for her. “They’re refugees twice-over,” she says. “First from Palestine, and then from Syria.”

There’s a common misperception in the west that most refugees in Turkey are in camps, Zapparoli-Manzoni-Bodson says. In fact, the vast majority live in Turkey’s major cities, such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

She says the situation is getting desperate. “These refugees survive however they can, often through precarious, illegal employment as tailors, waiters, labourers or even sex workers. With difficulties accessing the labour market and schools, many find themselves stuck in limbo. With two million people and mostly in urban centres, resources are depleting and tensions rising.”

Turkey

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'Opened my eyes': U of T undergraduate students visit Turkey, where geology and culture collide

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Turkey referendum follows global shift to the right: U of T historian compares the Erdoğan win to Trump and Brexit

"The military coup was destined to fail": U of T experts on Turkey

Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations, Department of

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Why Canada should accept 100,000 refugees and help “knock ISIS off its pedestal”

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The increasing desperation of refugees in Turkey

Read more about the refugee crisis