Gülenist diaspora and the discourse of authoritarianism

After German President Joachim Gauck, Freedom House also joined the chorus of voices criticizing Turkey about authoritarianism. The AK Party government is being criticized in various areas ranging from freedom of the press to recent appointments in the police force. According to its report "Freedom of the Press in the World 2013", Freedom House dropped Turkey's status, formerly labeled as "partly free," to the category of "not free", similar to North Korea. The 2009 Davos Summit was the onset of the discourse of authoritarianism, which entered a new phase after the Dec. 17 operations. A new factor now is playing into the hands of Kemalist and secular groups which complained about the AK Party in Western capitals. Without a doubt, this catalyst contributing new momentum is the Gulen Movement's transnational network's campaign against the AK Party and Erdogan. The Gülen Movement, accused of founding a parallel state nestled in the government, is frequently in the limelight through its international connections. Investigated for illegal wiretapping and espionage in Turkey, the Movement's strategy has been to put pressure on groups through the international public opinion. The Gülen Movement has a diasporic nature, mobilizing different networks against the AK Party in more than 150 countries in an organized manner. The over-politicization of this religious service movement through its reflex of taking over the government in Turkey resulted in the loss of its religious legitimacy. This time around, the networks which were purportedly formed to be used for religious service are being used in campaigns against Turkey and the AK Party. This new campaign is being quite effective in Western capitals, with Washington and Brussels at the head. A function whereby the negative view of Turkey is strengthened is being undertaken.

One of the most negative aspects of the Gulen Movement's campaign is that the Movement is in fact harming itself. First of all, there is a rash opposition being implemented. The anger coming from being unable to obtain the desired power and the fear from being compared to a parallel structure is transforming into a radical reaction. Thus, the Gulen Movement's opposition to the AK Party is becoming similar to the opposition of diasporic groups that are against Turkey. Through this strong opposition, the Movement is carrying itself to this level of diaspora.

Another attention-grabbing issue observed in the international campaigns of the Gülen Movement is that Kemalist groups have reshaped all criticisms against the AK Party from various aspects. These criticisms are not limited to subjects such as "corruption," "lack of democracy," "lack of freedom of the press" and "authoritarian Erdoğan." I believe that the stigmatization of the AK Party as "Islamist" should be added to the list.

As is known, the Gülen Movement has introduced itself as the "bright face" of moderate Islam in Western capitals for some time. Indeed, the Gülenists create a rather important result by positioning the AK Party as a radical Islamist. They attempt to create their own identity over the imaginary Islamism of the AK Party.

This is a kind of diasporic otherization and will intensify as long as the AK Party's struggle against the parallel structure continues. Another result of the Gülenist international campaign is the opposition coalition in Turkey and abroad. The AK Party criticisms of the "religious service" Movement and "secular" Kemalists are mutually supportive of each other.This has created a serious challenge which the AK Party Government has to direct. While combating the parallel structure, the Turkish political system has to be rebuilt in a democratic shape. Also, it is necessary to face the international criticisms that this transition period has brought. In this sense, Turkey is faced with a public diplomacy problem which it has never faced before in all of its history: A diasporic opposition that is hierarchically organized and ruled from the USA...