These political movements flourish on the margins of Turkish society because of poverty and because of the people's feeling that they are not being represented.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Turkey is immersed in a profound social and political conflict between secularists, who have been in power since the republic was founded, and an insurgent Islamic-based movement that seeks to increase the role of religion in public life.
It is beneficial for Turkish democracy that not all religious conservatives are united under one banner.
I don't much care whether rural Anatolians or Istanbul secularists take power. I'm not close to any of them. What I care about is respect for the individual.
Foreign journalists writing about Turkey like to focus on the most fundamental divide in Turkish society: the rift between religious conservatives and secularists.
There's been quite a clear upswing in nationalist sentiments. Everyone is talking about it, in Turkey as well.
With the backdrop of its geostrategic location and historical ties with the Middle East, Turkey has an essential role to play for the stability, peace and social development of the region.
That is one of the reasons why we advocate for good relations between the two countries. Turkey understands the needs of the region.
Those looking from Europe see Turkey as an economic success, whereas others from the Middle East see Turkey as a democratic success.
Turkey is widely envied while there are very serious troubles in the world economy.
The government in Turkey, which represents the powerful, traditionalist mass, is very comfortable creating policies tailored only for their supporters.