By : MD IRSHAD AYUB
The New Year’s Eve attack on Istanbul nightclub that killed at least 39 people and wounded many people, most of them were foreigners. Ankara and Istanbul have been targeted by several terrorist attacks in 2016 carried out by the Islamic State group or Kurdish rebels, killing more than 180 people. Turkey is a member of the NATO alliance and a partner in the US-led coalition fighting against IS group in Syria and Iraq, in another front, it is also actively involved launching an incursion into Syria in August 2016 to drive the other radical Sunni militants from its borders. Turkey has lost more than 260 people in terror attacks at different locations since Jan 2016. How has turkey a politically stable with a booming economy descended into instability and chaos?
The outlook for Turkey in 2017 is anything but optimistic, with a declining tourism industry, widening terror footprint, escalating internal insurgency and ambitious geopolitical realignments in the Muslim world, deepening diplomatic rapprochement with Russia as well as cementing toward neo-ottomanism dream that would shape Turkey’s future policies and programmes.
Moreover, the major geopolitical challenges of 2017 that could seriously change the balance of power in the international arena are one of the dramatic changing situations in Turkey. 2016 was one of the worst years in terms of fatalities in Turkey.
Economic perspective
Turkish tourism industry is adversely affected by a serious of the terrorist bombing that stormed its capital Ankara and the main economic hub and crowding city Istanbul. The tourism economy of Turkey which makes a fairly large contribution to its GDP. A large of tourist comes from Russia that also forced Turkish President Erdogan to forge ties with Moscow in the field of tourism, trade, and commerce. Both countries agreed to cooperate closely to promote tourism culture and enhance investment in the regions.
Political and Islamic perspective
Political stability and economic stability are partners. Geopolitical and strategic imperatives will continue to remain the deciding factor in shaping the Turkey’s internal political stability and peace. Geopolitical risks will continue to be critical challenges for Erdogan in 2017 to preserve country’s unity and territorial integrity. For the sake of Turkey’s stability, peace, and prosperity, it is to be ensured that Turkish president Erdogan should immediately shut down the U.S., military base which is located in Incirlik. As long as it remains to exist on Turkish soil, it will be providing a safe haven for coup plotters and anti-Turkish elements. As a result of this, Erdogan will remain to face the threat of coup. Because of the fact that Turkish military establishment is still a secular institution and suspicious of his Islamist beliefs. The current civilian establishment is pro-Islamic regime and also expected to lean towards instilling Islamic political system which is premised on the principle of gender justice and co-existence as well as a beacon of tolerance.
That’s first thing and second thing is that he should give up on his EU bid. In quest of entering EU for a long time is a wishful strategy, the fact is that members of EU are not going to accept Turkey as an EU member because Turkey is a Muslim country and also Erdogan’s domestic policy reflecting on strengthening Islamic social system.
to be continued…
