MEDIA REVIEW from Turkish Today's Zaman
Atilla Yayla*
The most perfected, the most “awesome” and the
cruelest-ever coup plan has been exposed. Despite the efforts of
coup-loving journalists, politicians and civil servants to cover it up,
it is certain that this plan is authentic and has been partially
implemented.
However, since it is a full-fledged coup attempt, the Sledgehammer
(Balyoz) has some aspects which we did not see in other coup plans such
as Moonlight (Ayışığı), Blond Girl (Sarıkız), Glove (Eldiven) and Cage
(Kafes). It presents an understanding of the economy and comprises a
number of actions to be taken in this context. These political or
economic aspects of Sledgehammer can shed light on the ideological
position of the subversive generals.
Let
us see what the Sledgehammer generals planned to do with the economy
after the coup as this is not extensively covered in the papers. Due to
considerations of space, a summary of their economic measures will be
provided. (You should add “so they say” or “so they claim” at the end
of every sentence.)
After performing the coup, the subversive generals
would extend their tutelage over political life to include the economy
as well. Active or retired military officers would be appointed as the
presidents of all important institutions, including all banks, the
İstanbul Stock Exchange (İMKB), the Gold Exchange, the Central Bank of
Turkey and all big corporations and holdings. Thus, all key points
would be occupied by military personnel. This means that the uniformed
civil servants whose profession is to prepare for dying and killing
would manage the economy, which is quite a different sphere for them,
within a chain of command.
The abovementioned implies that the
uniformed civil servants see themselves as a caste and trust only their
own members and have the delusion they will carry out everything
successfully. Their perceptions about the economy are explained better
in the following:
The Sledgehammer generals entertain the false
belief that as they can save this country from the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AK Party), they can also save the economy from
“dependence” and people from “poverty.” Another of their beliefs is
that they have to forcefully seize the economic welfare of “the
reactionary people” in order to prevent their “reactionary” activities.
A perverted understanding of economic independence is the most
important part of their economic credo. In this context, ties with
“non-national” organizations such as the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) would be severed after the coup in order to attain “full economic
independence.” The privileges granted to international companies would
be abolished and their property in Turkey would be seized. Holdings
partially owned by international companies would be nationalized.
The
interest on internal and external debts would be wiped clean. Permits
for interest-free banking would be canceled and the assets of these
banks would be registered as revenue in the state Treasury. Foreign
corporations’ shares being traded on the stock markets would be
confiscated. Foreign people and companies would be prohibited from
transferring their money to banks outside the country. Banking and
stock exchange transactions would be halted until a contrary command
was issued. Economic relations with Iran, Arab and Gulf countries would
be terminated.
Intending to ensure “full economic independence”
at full throttle, the Sledgehammer generals neglected citizens and
local companies in line with the abovementioned measures. Thus, the
management of the previously privatized State Economic Enterprises
(KİT) would be seized and nationalized as soon as possible.
Strategically important enterprises would be nationalized. If
necessary, private enterprises would have up to 40 percent of their
shares confiscated be paid later.Islamic capital, too, would be
confiscated. The banks belonging to non-Muslim minorities would be
prevented from transferring money abroad, and the bank accounts of
companies belonging to minorities would be confiscated. Payment of
domestic and foreign debts would be halted until a subsequent command.
Then extra banknotes would be printed to pay the debts.
That’s
all for now about what the Sledgehammer generals would do in the
economy. I know that you are bored and see most of this as utter
nonsense. They are surely nonsensical, but they are not the ravings of
some madmen. Rather, these views expressed so naively by these
uniformed civil servants have a strong ideological basis and are
advocated by more people than you would guess. In particular, two
groups are likely to entertain similar views: nationalists and
socialists.
A nationalist socialist line
The
Sledgehammer generals are pursuing a national socialist line in the
economy. Many of this line’s arguments make their characteristic
appearance in their economic program. First of all, they don’t like the
idea of leaving economic life to its own devices. They believe that a
free economy will soon lose its independence.
Accordingly, as they tend
to regard society as one big military base, they see the economy as an
aspect of military life. For the subversive generals, everything should
be disciplined and affairs should be conducted within a chain of
command as it would be in military base. In more technical terms, the
subversive generals are against a market economy since in their eyes,
it represents lack of control.
A market economy not only harms
independence but also helps people or groups, termed as “internal
enemies” by the armed civil servants, to prosper and become influential
in society. That’s why it is considered harmful.
Unlike pure
socialists, national socialists do not rule out private property
altogether. They want it to exist, but in a castrated form. They say
that small shops, groceries, carpentry shops and even small-scale
enterprises may exist and function in the economic sphere but
large-scale enterprises and strategic sectors should be completely
owned or controlled by the state. Because they consider everything as a
part or tool of the national struggle for existence -- referring to
what Germans call “Lebensraum” (living space) and Turks “national
security.” For this reason, they want to extend state ownership and the
property not owned by the state should be tightly controlled by the
state.
The Sledgehammer’s civil servants are also not content
with the friendly relations we develop with other countries,
particularly with our neighbors. They are quite uncomfortable with
these good relations because they feel that sophisticated and complex
relations will bring welfare and stability. On the contrary, they need
more and more enemies and continuous threats to our security.
Otherwise, their existence will become insignificant or be viewed
unnecessary.
The political economy of the Sledgehammer generals
is obviously a self-isolating, paranoid, anti-market, statist national
socialist model. Of course, such a model cannot be implemented; there
may only be attempts to implement it. If it is implemented, it will
certainly breed hunger, chaos and war.
The fact that they failed to see
this plain truth gives us an idea about the qualifications and economic
knowledge of the subversive generals. Still, they cannot deny the
following fact: There is an unbreakable bond between private property
or a market economy and freedom. The market economy is the source and
shelter not only of wealth, but also of freedom and democracy. Those
who are against freedom always raise objections to private property and
a private property-based economy. Therefore, we should congratulate the
Sledgehammer generals for their consistency. For some reason, they have
managed to grasp the fact that being against freedoms and democracy
also entails opposition to private property and the market economy and
have prepared a plot consistent with this policy.
*Professor Atilla Yayla is a political scientist.
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