Turks divided over Erdogan’s Islamic direction

WASHINGTON – As Turkey prepares to vote for its first ever directly elected president, a new US survey says the Turks are divided over the current government’s efforts to amplify the country’s Islamic features. But there is also a sharp dip in the popularity of the once all-powerful Turkish military. An overwhelming majority (69 per cent) says that Islam plays a large role in the political life of Turkey, with only 26 per cent saying it plays a small role.

Since 2005, six-in-ten or more have said Islam is a major force in Turkish politics. However, in 2002, prior to Erdogan’s election as prime minister, the public was split: 45 per cent said Islam played a large role, while 43per cent said the role was small. The leader responsible for the resurgence of Turkey’s Islamic identity —current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan — is also the main contender for the president’s office. Most observers expect Erdogan to win the upcoming Aug 10 election. The survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Center, however, show that Turks are almost evenly split between those who are happy with Erdogan’s leadership and the state of the nation and those who believe the former Istanbul mayor is leading the country down the wrong path. Overall, 44 per cent are satisfied with the country’s direction, while 51 per cent are dissatisfied; 48 per cent say Erdogan has a good influence on the country, while the same percentage believes he has a negative impact.

Support for the Turkish military is down to 55 per cent, a sharp plunge from 72 per cent in 2010 and 85 per cent in 2007. Turkey’s military has long been a major player in the country’s politics and there have been several military coups since the Turkish Republic was found in 1923. Many Turks also sympathise with the street demonstrations that rocked the country and attracted international attention just over a year ago. A 49 per cent plurality says they supported the anti-government protests in Istanbul’s Gezi Park. Another long running theme in Turkish politics is the deep divisions between secular and religious camps in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation, and contemporary Turkish society continues to reflect this divide. For example, highly observant Turkish Muslims are much more likely to support Erdogan, believe the country is on the right track, and oppose last year’s protests. The survey, which is based on face-to-face interviews conducted among a representative sample of 1,001 adults between April 11 and May 16, 2014, also finds America’s image to be overwhelmingly negative in Turkey. Only 19 per cent of Turks express a favorable opinion of the United States, and just 25 per cent have a positive view of the European Union.

Overall, 56 per cent in Turkey disapprove of the way Erdogan is handling personal freedoms, crime, corruption and the situation in Syria. On the question of religion, both secular and religious Muslims agree that Islam plays a large role in Turkish political life: Three-quarters of Muslims in Turkey who rarely pray say this is the case, while a nearly equivalent share (73 per cent) of observant Muslims agree. And supporters of both the ruling (69 per cent) and opposition (67 per cent) parties say Islam is a political force in Turkey. However, belief that Islam plays a big role in politics is more common among males, the young, and among Turks with a post-secondary education.