On March 13, 2014, Pacifica Institute was honored to host Dr. Fevzi Bilgin, Author and Executive Director of Rethink Institute (www.rethinkinstitute.org).
Dr. Bilgin is an expert on constitutional politics, religion and politics, political liberalism, Turkish politics, Middle Eastern politics, and US-Turkey relations. The evening began with Dr. Bilgin informing the audience on the background of the Turkish political system. He stated that Turkey is a democratic, secular Muslim country that has free market and has seen economic growth in the last 10 – 13 years. Turkey is also an important ally to the United States as well as NATO, and an inspiration to other Middle Eastern countries. Turkey is also a parliamentary regime, meaning the president and the prime minister share the power.
Dr. Bilgin shed some light on the recent headlines involving corruption, scandal and the political crisis in Turkey and also informed the audience on what to expect in the upcoming months. According to Bilgin, on December 17, 2013, Istanbul district prosecutor launched a wide ranging corruption inquiry, which included the detention of businessmen with close ties to the government, including cabinet ministers and their sons. Some of these men also had close relationships to the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan. Around 80 people were detained with charges of bribery and money laundering, involving billions of dollars of corruption. Erdogan had redesigned the judicial branch and shifted the working locations of multiple police chiefs. The Erdogan government refuted the allegations as plots aiming to overthrow the AKP Party and Erdogan himself.
Bilgin stated that Mr. Erdogan blamed the US, the CIA, Israel, Mossad, Mr. Fetullah Gulen, and the Hizmet Movement. Bilgin further stated that since Turkey has a parliamentary regime, the current events in Turkey are a political crisis rather than a larger social economic crisis. Turkey and the AKP’s future depend on the three stages of the upcoming elections. In his opinion, Dr. Bilgin stated that change will happen “for a better, more powerful, more interesting democracy in the near future.” The speech came to an end with Q & A with the audience.
The evening also included dinner, music, and Ebru art demonstrations.
Pacifica Institute would like to thank Dr. Bilgin for an informative evening and all the guests for attending.
