As one of the most dynamic societies in the world, Turkey is undergoing an incredible change as it attempts to reconcile itself between East and West. It is fascinating to witness the people of this nation as they attempt to place themselves in the world, especially since neither the Europeans nor the Arabs seem willing to fully accept them into their region
Turks seem to find it hard to identify with any group; much like Canadians they are a very multicultural society concerned with finding their place in the world. As one of the most populous countries in the region, Turkey is an extremely important country as it creates a bridge between East and West.
The secular nature of Turkey is certainly an anomaly in the region – even as the country proclaims itself to be 98% Muslim, the all-encompassing nature of the religion that one can find in Cairo or Damascus is not to be found here. Indeed, Islam here has been domesticated and secularized, confined to the private sphere, much as Christianity in the West. The country’s bid for the European Union has made it possible for the country to modernized and produce a strong upper-middle class which has great ambitions in the world – to a degree greater than any other country in the region.
This upper class has allowed itself to secularize (at least on the outside) completely, to the extent where the clothing styles proclaim that the people look to the West much more than the East tight jeans and short skirts are highly visible, to name a few effects. The people are also highly involved in the political process, something that is certainly not the case in other parts of the Middle East. It is interesting to observe this comparison and identify people in this very mixed society, united only in their love for Turkey’s supreme hero, Atatürk. The secular principles established by this leader have led to a society that espouses secularism in the private sphere, and only in the private sphere – very different from Arab society.
As Turkey continues to attempt to join the EU, it is increasingly important to pay attention to this dynamic society that has the potential to change Europe dramatically. One can only hope that the fragile example of Turkish democracy remains intact, serving as an example for the regimes in their vicinity.
