The Gulen movement and Turkish power revival

[Lamagoodle]

Turkey is a nation that has witnessed rapid economic growth in recent decades. By some estimates, it is currently the 17th largest economy. A decade from now, it is set to be among the top ten economies. As a matter of fact, together with south Africa, it has joined the exclusive club, BRICTS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China, Turkey and South Africa) which are the countries that drive the global economy.

BRICTS countries have deterred the collapse of the global economy at a time when capitalism has faced challenges. Some of the economies of the BRICTS are based on natural resource/manufacturing. Brazil, South Africa and Russia have enormous natural resources which are needed by new industrialised countries not least China in its efforts to catch up and overhaul its infrastructure. India ‘s economic growth is mainly in the ICT sector which in the long run could create problems; depending on one sector is tantamount to putting all your eggs in one basket.

Remarkably, the catching up of China poses the question of whether there is a positive relationship between economic growth and democracy or to put it in another way free market and economic growth.

Indeed, it is not only China that is catching up; Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam are also doing great. If you have been to any of these countries, you will notice the economic dynamism taking place.

Even in Africa, we can notice economic growth. Nearly, 30 countries in Africa have had double digits economic growth rates during the last two decades. Angola and Mozambique are two countries which are predicted to have the same kind of economic standards as the old industrialised nations.

The growth of countries in Africa is underpinned by several factors including foreign direct investments from China and the other BRICTS countries. Instead of aid as a mechanism of growth, there is direct flow of capital. One estimate is that China has invested more than tenfold in Africa during the last two decades than western countries did during the last century.
Yes, there is corruption and abject poverty (due to income inequalities) but there will certainly be spillovers from the windfalls. Even war-torn countries e.g. Uganda, Rwanda, etc have experienced economic growth. Of course, some of these countries started from nowhere so in real times, the growth could be modest in real terms.

The impact of the global economic growth has also been witnessed by Somalia; Propelled by free enterprising (absence of government), diaspora remittances and ICT proliferations, life is getting better. Yes, the growth has been uneven and corruption is still widespread, we don’t have a manufacturing base and inflation is a companion but there are good signs.
There are also worrying signs in Somalia; the onset of fools’ market (bubble economy) and the subsequent inflation is having a negative impact in somalia. The lack of strong institutions, nepotism and tribalism and not least the lack of support for the agro-sector have also combined to create passivism.

Sustaining growth is another issue but I wouldn’t dwell on that.

The Turkish growth is interesting. Turkey was the last bastion of Islamic civilization; the Ottoman Empire and its expansionist policy was stopped at the gates of Vienna. There is a “Turkish phobia” in Europe. The event of the “gates of Vienna” is one of the main reasons why Turkey is not a member of the EU. Called “ the Christian club” by Tenju cilla (a former prime minister), the EU is willing to let in Bulgaria, Hungry and Romania (corrupt and human rights abusers) but not Turkey. The argument goes that the Turks have a different culture (read religion) or that it is not in Europe. Some countries in the north (protestants) such the UK, the Nordic countries, Germany and the Netherlands support Turkish membership. The southern Catholics are against it.

Turkey’s growth could be deduced to several factors; first and foremost, a greater market for goods and services; after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkish companies have penetrated new markets and the ensuing new spheres of political influence. The economies of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan are tied the Turkish economy due to geographic, language/cultural/religious proximity . Secondly, the political stability created by the AKP party. Historically, since the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the military has been a powerful actor; human rights abuses and corruption were rampant. The AKP party has engaged in improving the rights of Kurds, limiting the power of the military and engaging in global issues.
The third driver is the gist of this thread; the behind the scenes emergence of a powerful fraternity; a movement which is actually the hidden hand in the metamorphosis of Turkey.

There is a movement mainly of middle class turks- Gulen (NOT TO BE CONFUSED THE AHMADIYA GHULAM MOVEMENT) which has strong ties to the AKP. It is the movement that is behind Turkish revival including Turkey’s engagement in Somalia. It is responsible for Turkish influence in Islamic countries. Through the Gule movement, there are several projects in Somalia (everything from health care, infrastructure and education). The Gulen movement is the main sponsor behind the airlifting of kids to Turkey. Many of the Somali kids are housed in boarding schools financed and run by this movement.

Through various NGOs Gulen is what is keeping people in Muqdisho alive. They provide refugee care to the displaced, provide schooling, health care etc.

The Gulen movement was started a few decades by a medical doctor who today lives in exile the USA. He is reported to have been given the right to return to Turkey after been tried in absentia but due to illness still remains in the USA. It is an Islamic movement and its motto is; “science is the way forward” which was echoed years back by Mutahir Mohamed, the then Malaysian PM (see prince Daadi’s picture). To Mohamed, Islamic countries lagged in innovation and technology.
The business idea of the Gulen movement is based on the notion that to develop muslims need to study natural sciences; studying maths, physics etc os equal to studying the quran. I know many seef-la-boods- will call this blasphemous but the underlying logic is simple; muslims have an obligation to read the quran and as such this is taken for granted. The backwardness of Islamic nations, the argument goes is the result of abandoning science and replace it with fuzzy issues (e.g. politics); on the other hand, science is at the heart of western nations’ industrialization and development.
The Gulen movement is a global movement. It has over 50 schools across the world. In the USA, it has several. In Africa, there are schools in many countries (e.g.Somalia, Senegal). The teachers who teach at these schools are among the best. They are members of the movement and engage in the Islamic version of evangelism; they are expected to travel and teach in at least a dozen or so.

In Turkey itself, the Gulen movement owns the top universities, secondary and primary schools, many shopping arcades, real-estate, etc. In fact, many of the somalis in Turkish universities, schools attend Gulen movement institutions.
In recent years, the movement has also wielded political muscles. The AKP party has realized that the movement is good for the country and has therefore tacitly supported it. The movement is gaining a lot of supporters because of its achievements; there is virtually no corruption or nepotism. It seems that there are no membership fees; it is the spirit which counts.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13503361

[misterioso]

Interesting.

[Adali]

nice read, thank you.

[Lamagoodle]

Misterioso and Adali, soo dhowaada

[AbdiWahab252]

What about the Persians ? They offer trade and education opportunities but the moderate Sunni theocracy rejects the offers of friendship from the Islamic Republic

[Lamagoodle]

What about the Persians ? They offer trade and education opportunities but the moderate Sunni theocracy rejects the offers of friendship from the Islamic Republic

Some people (particularly somalis) have been fooled into believing that shiasim=persian.

[AbdiWahab252]

Lamgoodle.

They have done a lot in Somalia with little credit being given to them. They want to do more but the Sunni Secularist Surwalgab regime don't want to embrace the central tenant of diplomacy: countries never permanent alliances only permanent interests.

[Lamagoodle]

Lamgoodle.

They have done a lot in Somalia with little credit being given to them. They want to do more but the Sunni Secularist Surwalgab regime don't want to embrace the central tenant of diplomacy: countries never permanent alliances only permanent interests.

Somalis are generally ilitrate and have been sold the notion that only wahabism is the true form of islam. Saudi Petrodollars has allowed the wahabism discourse to permeate.

[AbdiWahab252]

Lamagodle.

Now its Qatari dinars which run the show.

[Lamagoodle]

I think Somalia should do as Turkey; provide licenses to Imams; as it is today, any bugger with a command of the arabic language can call himself sheikh and issue Fatwas.

[LiquidHYDROGEN]

Some people think doing business with somebody is akin to converting. Apparently, having economic ties with Iran is like converting to shia faith. Logic isn't a very big deal with salafis.

[gurey25]

I think Somalia should do as Turkey; provide licenses to Imams; as it is today, any bugger with a command of the arabic language can call himself sheikh and issue Fatwas.

even better they should set up an islamic university that offers multi discipline courses and only licence graduates from this university as imams.

[Lamagoodle]

Gurey, I agree!

In the good old days there was a strict hierarchy dictated by experience, knowledge and mental capacity. You have to start by become "xir" (student), then Macallin and sheikh. Nowadays, every fool is a sheikh.

BTW, about Gulen; http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21 ... fight-back

[SultanOrder]

I welcome the Gulen movement, it has been too long that salafi-oriented charities and schools have filled the void to indoctrinate the next generation. Gulen movement which is a lot more moderate and open to other disciplines is what we need. They can produce top engineers, doctors, civil workers, etc without being beholden to radical beliefs and yet have strong moral character.

[Lamagoodle]

I welcome the Gulen movement, it has been too long that salafi-oriented charities and schools have filled the void to indoctrinate the next generation. Gulen movement which is a lot more moderate and open to other disciplines is what we need. They can produce top engineers, doctors, civil workers, etc without being beholden to radical beliefs and yet have strong moral character.

PO. We need a somali version of the Gulen movement; dig water wells, build schools, hospitals etc instead of mosques (there are plenty), prioritise natural sciences.