Ideological leadership faces turbulent times

I was lucky to be taught by this veteran diplomat for some years. I was even luckier to have worked with him later. Once he remarked that the politician who thinks that the world does not change is a failed politician. He also added that a politician who comes from an ideological political party and if he thinks that that his crowd mobilizing abilities are enough for his success is a failed politician as well. He said that political programs require popular support many a times. While some countries have the ability to produce popular figures, these figures can fail as time goes by. This is illustrated in what is happening in Syria, Iraq and Iran. Those who force people to take to streets can be exposed by the very people who later feel that they have been cheated and deceived.

When Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power, riding the crest of popularity, he sought to promote himself as if he was a new sultan. He reminded us of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Interestingly, the same people who made extraordinary sacrifices for the revolution are calling for Khamenei's ouster. Some leaders in Hezbollah are defying his orders and instructions. The same is taking place in Syria as leaders and soldiers of the regime are defecting. Saddam Hussein also faced a similar situation. These autocrats can find themselves exposed and excommunicated any moment.

A politician who thinks that he can lead his country toward economic and political stability while manipulating his people and making them mere tools for his policies is a shortsighted politician to say the least.

In fact, the masses wait for some concrete policies dealing with their unemployment, housing and freedom. When the general masses find that their situation is not improving despite claims of progress and prosperity, they turn against their leaders. Some leaders think that they can face the public rage by offering a heavy dose of religion. It is as if they say you have no option but to be pious and give up this life for a better life hereafter. This may work for some time but later it explodes.

The problem with these ideological leaders is that they are not politicians at all. They only manipulate the emotions of their people. The Egyptian supreme leader once lied after the revolution when he wanted to deceive people by saying wheat harvest doubled under President Muhammad Mursi. He sought to equate Mursi with Prophet Yousuf (peace be upon him)! In fact, the Ministry of Agriculture refuted the supreme leader's claim saying that it was incorrect.

Like Muammar Qaddafi and Bashar Assad, Erdogan blamed external forces for instigating troubles in his country. He said that a bunch of thieves are carrying out the protests. Qaddafi called them mice and Assad called them insects.
However, it is true that Erdogan has done so much for his country, but people cannot back tyranny and autocracy. The insistence of Erdogan to have his own way regardless of the civil society is a sign of arrogance and exclusion.

While some other countries, like Syria, Iran and Russia, are looking for a chance to undermine Erdogan, one should notice that the volume of the protest movements is surprising. The government made a huge mistake when it took people for granted. It seems that Erdogan and his party got blinded by their economic success and permanent victories. There are other Turks who think that their secular experience was fading away and giving way for new religiosity. As pragmatic as he may look, Erdogan should have realized that a moment of clash would come at any time with the secular trend and with other countries that do not like the Turkish model.

Erdogan talked much about Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and he became another Suleiman but the protest exposed another side of Turkey that is fraught with internal resentment. I thought that the PKK would have been smarter in dealing with the Turkish society. Erdogan should have learned that his country is the heir of the previous Islamic Caliphate but is not qualified to play the same role. Many among the Arabs still feel that the Ottoman presence was colonization and one reason for the backwardness in the Arab region.

Undoubtedly, Turkey is a great nation. The Arabs are looking forward to having strategic relations with it. And our brothers in Turkey should be realistic about dreams that can be realized. Too much enthusiasm can kill these dreams as well. This is the secret that may kill the religious parties such as the Muslim Brotherhood who believed that all problems of people could be solved through religion.

ali.bluwi@yahoo.com

Source: ARAB NEWS