What would it have meant for the rest of Turkish History if General Kenan Evren ruled a bit differen

[justiniano]

1. He doesn't Ban the Hijab in schools & universities
2. The only left wingers he chases into the underground are communists
3. He's just as harsh to Turkey's religious right as he is to it's communists

[simon darkshade]

Why would he choose to take these three courses of action?

It would seem that you are seeking to have a President who comes to power after a right wing military coup in the chilly depth of the Cold War act very much more moderately. I can't see the drivers for such a seachange in his character or support base. Furthermore, not banning the hijab and being harsh to the religious right seem to be conflicting policies.

[lordroel]

May 18, 2022 22:50:46 GMT justiniano said:

1. He doesn't Ban the Hijab in schools & universities
2. The only left wingers he chases into the underground are communists
3. He's just as harsh to Turkey's religious right as he is to it's communists

This is still a dictator if we follow point 2 and 3, regardless if they are communists ore the religious right.

[justiniano]

May 19, 2022 3:04:50 GMT simon darkshade said:

Why would he choose to take these three courses of action?

To appeal to more Turks.

May 19, 2022 3:04:50 GMT simon darkshade said:

not banning the hijab and being harsh to the religious right seem to be conflicting policies.

Ataturk did it.

May 19, 2022 3:04:50 GMT simon darkshade said:

It would seem that you are seeking to have a President who comes to power after a right wing military coup in the chilly depth of the Cold War act very much more moderately.

I'm still interested to know what would happen

[lordroel]

May 19, 2022 3:11:47 GMT @justiniano said:

"I'm still interested to know what would happen

Asking a question is great but also saying yourself what you might think might happen if General Kenan Evren does these 3 things helps in the discussion of this thread.

[justiniano]

May 19, 2022 3:04:50 GMT simon darkshade said:

are seeking to have a President who comes to power after a right wing military coup in the chilly depth of the Cold War act very much more moderately

Maybe it could be a centrist coup, like with Anwar sadat.

[simon darkshade]

From what I can gather, General Evren was a military dictator until 1983 and then an authoritarian leader backed up by armed forces who have a history of coups and crackdowns. That doesn't seem to be tailormade for responsiveness to electoral politics nor really needing to court public approval and appeal.

Ataturk ruled in the 1920s and 30s, which was a time before the overarching prism of the Cold War. In such a circumstance, the anti-communist right was courted and indulged by various Turkish administrations.

[simon darkshade]

May 19, 2022 3:18:57 GMT justiniano said:

May 19, 2022 3:04:50 GMT simon darkshade said:

are seeking to have a President who comes to power after a right wing military coup in the chilly depth of the Cold War act very much more moderately

Maybe it could be a centrist coup, like with Anwar sadat.

I wouldn't rule it out completely, but would say it is a tad unlikely, given the established positions and political leanings of the Turkish military. Was there are significant group within them who had more of a centrist leaning?

[justiniano]

May 19, 2022 3:24:37 GMT simon darkshade said:

Was there are significant group within them who had more of a centrist leaning?

I don't know. Maybe a center-right coup then?

[simon darkshade]

I think that might be a better angle to push rather than have an established fairly right wing general adopt very different positions and policies.

[justiniano]

ok simon darkshade, what do you think it would mean for the rest of Turkish history?

[simon darkshade]

I think you’d need to go back to the WW2 era to start planting the roots of a centre right power base. My gut suggests that it might be easier to base it around a charismatic figurehead with his own clique to deliver it rather than dramatically alter the generals in general.

[justiniano]

R u willing to tell me what you think would happen in my scenario anyway? simon darkshade,

[simon darkshade]

I'll have a think about it over the weekend, but I've got a couple of other things on the go I want to get out of the way first as well as a few assignments that are calling.

[justiniano]

simon darkshade, ok, ty, take your time