Whilst the excitement over the plan and its feasibility may be due to the possibility of the party being a third option, recipes for revolutionising the system have always been popular. One such recipe is about how Pakistan can emulate Turkey. The Turkish model enjoys wide appeal across the political spectrum and has been endorsed by both conservatives and liberals. However, each group has its own interpretation on what the model represents.
Post 9/11, Musharraf advocated Ataturk’s secular-authoritarian regime to legitimise his rule. However, he was careful not to upset the mullahs and never went beyond the rhetoric of ‘enlightened moderation’, his wannabe version of Turkey’s secularism. Instead, he was more interested in promoting the Turkish experience of institutionalising the role of military in politics and argued that military oversight was necessary to prevent radicals from coming to power and for ensuring an orderly transition to democracy. To date, advocates of military rule argue that Pakistan is not ready for democracy and military tutelage is needed to ‘educate’ the people. However, there are considerable differences in the nature and history of the two countries’ militaries. Whilst the civil-military imbalance in Turkey has resulted in strengthening Turkey’s secularism, the civil-military imbalance in Pakistan has led to radicalisation of state and society. This is because Pakistan’s military has always patronised religious groups in order to legitimise and perpetuate its power.
The appeal of the Turkish Model for the Islamist parties in Pakistan lies in the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Islamic roots and its anti-Israel stance. To them, the Turkish Model represents an opportunity to come to power through democratic means rather than through military patronage.
For the masses, the Turkish model symbolises the ‘rags to riches’ transformation of Turkey’s economy under the AKP’s leadership. However, contrary to popular perception, Turkey’s economic success during 2002-2007 has not been due to the AKP’s innovative policies but because it embraced and successfully implemented an IMF-supported reform programme, the terms of which had been negotiated by the previous government. Another key factor in boosting Turkey’s economy has been AKP’s commitment to pro-European Union reforms, which has attracted high levels of foreign investment. Moreover, AKP’s support from the reform-minded business community has also played a key role in the country’s economic growth.
Though each group relates to a different aspect, the success of Turkey is a result of a variety of factors including the political role of its secular army, the AKP’s compatibility with secular democracy, its strong business community and its close historical, cultural and economic ties with Europe. As these factors are unique to Turkey and in sharp contrast to Pakistan’s context, the possibility of replicating the Turkish model seems unlikely. Therefore, instead of attempting to emulate other countries, we need to acknowledge and address our own demons and work towards making a Pakistani model.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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I would just say that we cant just replicate that model and cant be on the track of the secularism. We want the ISLAMIC MODEL Not that model which has been formulated by our so called Islamic Parties but a Islamic Model based on true teaching of ISLAM. Through which we ruled the world for centuries under which we were leader in almost every aspect of the life.
SO TRUE ISLAMIC MODEL ... NO TO SECULARISM AND DEMON-CRACY
It cannot get any more ludicrous that this:
Turkey’s economic success ... because it embraced and successfully implemented an IMF-supported reform programme.....
There are people in Pakistan who are trying to downplay Turkeys success and then there are those who think that India is a healthy economy and a society. I wonder if one could connect these dots....
The author is forgetting that in 65 years Pakistan has not been able or willing to change even a single governing system. Our intellectuals and governing elite love status quo. By reading op-eds every day of every newspaper, I have never seen even one article for reforms in local government, police structure or civil service and military perks. There is no hope for Pakistan without media changing its agenda of supporting status quo.
Good article. The problem with using Turkey as a comparison is that Pakistan's state and perceived existential identity is, and has always been, to proclaim itself as an "Islamic Republic", a country for the Muslims by the Muslims. If a country chooses to define its identity on this notion, then 'western' notions of democracy, equality, secularism, economic growth and pluralism fall on deaf ears, doesn't it.
Turkey is an extremely far-fetched model for Pakistan to follow; a model, an ideal no doubt, albeit an extremely unrealistic one. Perhaps, a better model for us could be Bangladesh - if we have the guts to admit it.
very good.
If @Ashok and @Cautious are telling some thing correct, we should accept it.The problem with us is that we are always in state of Denial.The sooner we get out of Denial Syndrome the better for us.One question for @Cautious and @Ashok, don't you guys have anything else to do, do you post comments on Indian websites, doesn't India has problems too?
Truth is Pakistan is stuck between a rock and a hard place due to American War of Terror. It has adversely affected Pakistan and the business community. Stability has become all but a distant dream. I preferred Musharraf's strategy, to our current government stance, where we remained neutral and didn't participate in the war simply because we don't have the resources for a decade long war misadventure. Musharraf was right to focus on the economy and not the American pressure.
The last decade will be known as the lost decade of Pakistan.
Political role of our "non" secualr army has been one of the root causes of our disaster. Islamists finding their way to power via democracy remains an elusive dream and hopefully will remain that way. Model of economic boom with the help of improved trade ties with neighbours is somehting that can however be copied. I have never seen head of any other party been grilled over their plan or lack thereof by any of our pseudointellectuals,and yet these are the parties which have remained in power for the last twenty five years ,and according to these very pragmatists are likely to continue to rule.
Pakistan can't emulate Turkey without first having an Ataturk and you don't have one on the horizon. Turkey is fundamentally different than Pakistan - it maybe a Muslim nation but it's economic engine is Western driven - it's a full member of NATO (you know the one your guys hate) - and it keeps the radical Mullah's on a short leash. Your politicians don't control the Mullahs, Military, Militants or even your own police force - your not in the same league.
This is a brilliant article - succint and crystal clear. Unfortunately it will fall on deaf ears - Pakistani history is built on the edifice of falsehood, wherein correlation becomes causation, the West (and India + Israel) are constantly conspiring to demean/ destroy/ devour the muslim world, and anything sold with Islam's name on it is a runaway hit. The assumption in Pakistan is that the AKP's economic success is somehow connected to its (as yet) subtle attempts to revive Islamic passions within secular Turkey, and that it precedes a possible muslim renaissance. While the future will prove them wrong, Pakistan may not have the benefit of learning from their mistakes.
Good article. However, few things to add. Pakistan does share a historical similarity with Turkey in terms of its military's influence in local politics and that is why Turkey is looked up to as an imitable model in Pakistan. Essentially, the fundamental principle is to provide governance of sufficient quality that political vacuum is not created for military intervention subverting the democratic evolution within the country. Secondly, to your reference on IMF reform agenda promised by the party prior to AKP. Signing reform agendas is not a big deal, its implementation is what matters. If I remember correctly, we also signed an economic reform agenda with IMF in 1988 for bringing fiscal deficit under 4.8% of GDP within few years. 24 years later, we are still struggling to meet that target because the political willingness required to achieve the target does not exist.
Would Pakistan be able to follow the following two basic principles of Turkey?
The Turkish constitution clearly states: "…We note that religions should stay in the individuals’ consciences and temples without interfering in worldly affairs",
The Turkish state continues to keep religion within the mosque and away from the public sphere. All religious education is the duty of the state-run institutions in which Quranic courses are not allowed to be taught to students under the age of 15. Private Islamic education is banned. People are not allowed to pray in the open.