There is much to learn from India: Turkish intellectuals

By Kesava Menon

ANKARA, MARCH 3. ``What can they teach us,'' asks Dr. Duygu Bazoglu Sezer, professor at the Department of International Relations at the Bilkent University here, referring to the current condition of Pakistan. ``There is so much that we can learn from India,'' she continues.

Her comment reflects an emerging perspective of the sub- continental situation among non-establishment analysts in Turkey. This view, though still far from being the dominant one, is diametrically opposite to that of the Turkish establishment which, at best, sees a symmetry between the sub-continental rivals and, at worst, is still steeply tilted towards Pakistan.

Surprisingly, given the current international context, one of the elements she finds most interesting about India is its one-time commitment to the non-alignment policy. It is not as if she thinks that the old-style non-alignment policy is still of perfect relevance to today's world. But, in opting for it India had shown a unique innovation and that ability to think for itself was of particular value.

Alluding to Turkey's interminable struggle to find a place for itself in the European Union, and the internal conflict over its own soul that it has stirred, she wonders whether the more independent path that she thinks India is following did not offer a better way. However, from the wistful manner in which she expresses herself on the subject it is clear that this mode of thinking is still the exception rather than the norm.

Dr. Sezer and other analysts of her ilk came out far stronger in their reading of the specifics of the sub-continental situation. When they compare Pakistan and India, they see regression on the one side and progress on the other. Pakistan, in its slideback from democracy, its pandering to ultra-religious forces, its economic mess and in its failure to promote women's rights, is seen to have fallen far short of the promise it once held.

These shortcomings of another Muslim majority State that declares its intention to modernise itself while retaining its basic religious-cultural ethos appear to have provoked deep thought and concern among this section of the Turkish intelligentsia. After all, Turkey also is trying to modernise itself while retaining its cultural ethos and the apparent failure of a country that was once considered a partner in the enterprise awakens doubts about Turkey's prospects of making a similar transition. It is akin to a person saying, ``If my brother has failed in this enterprise is there something inherent in our genes that will make me fail too''.

It is probably due to this comparison with its neighbour that India is seen in a rosier light than is warranted. Even the systemic weaknesses that led to a higher toll in the Gujarat earthquake did not appear to mar this picture of India. Two years ago, the Turkish Government did not do a good job in managing the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and such lapses are deemed unavoidable for developing countries such as Turkey and India. After such similarities, what stands out is India's achievements in information technology, the standards of its educational and research institutions and its relative economic stability.

Establishment and non-establishment thinkers in Turkey do agree on one matter - India's emergence as a power whose influence is only bound to increase. As mentioned in an earlier piece, the establishment does not appear to have fully weighed up what they should do about it. Among independent analysts, there are some who ponder over the extreme possibilities of a close relationship between India and Turkey.

Mr. Ilnur Cevik, Editor-in-Chief of the News (till recently the only English newspaper in the country), talks of the complementarities. Turkey's expertise in certain areas (such as construction and pipeline projects), its customs union with Europe and its special ties with Central Asia when combined with India's huge economic potential and its pool of skilled manpower could help create a new balance of power in Asia, he points out.

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Section  : International
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