Abant Platform Changed Atmosphere in Paris
Previously shaken from the rebellion of unemployed suburban youngsters and now with the student protests against the new employment act, France has focused on a different agenda at the Abant Platform in Paris this year.
The meeting of Turkish and French intellectuals has given French people, who have lately been struggling against domestic problems, a chance to show a greater interest in its surroundings.
France's place within the European Union (EU), Turkish-French relationships and Turkey's journey to Europe were handled as part of the sessions centered around republic, cultural pluralism, secularism, Islam, globalization and liberalism. Contrary to the French politicians, who produce obstacles before Turkey's EU process, French intellectuals unanimously agreed that Turkey is a necessity for the union and that was one of the points that stuck in the mind.
All the participants said holding a meeting with such broad participation in Paris was a huge success, as the diverse participation from both Turkey and France was proof of this.
Professor Alain Touraine, regarded as one of the greatest sociologists ever, sociologist Professor Gilles Kepel world renowned for his Middle East studies, director of one of the world's most respected social science schools, Ehess (School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences), Pierre Manent, French Human Sciences Center Chairman Alain d'Iribarne, French Constitutional Council Member Dominique Schnapper, famous historian Pierre Nora and philosopher Olivier Abel were the most interesting participants from France.
Representing Turkey, those who joined the platform for the first time include Professor Ahmet Insel from Paris Sorbonne University and Istanbul Galatasaray University and Professor Nilufer Gole from Ehess contributed to the organization.
The topics in the meetings shifted to Turkish-French relationships, Turkey's place in Europe, Turkey-EU relations and tension among civilizations.
Zaman daily writers Etyen Mahcupyan and Ali Bulac affected the meeting's agenda most with their criticisms of French-type democracy, pluralism and its relationships.
Bulac criticized the French intellectuals' attitudes closed to communication with the Muslim world and unwilling to understand them.
Mahcupyan pointed out that Europeans legitimize a policy that forces foreigners to remain foreign forever.
Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals Honorary President Sami Selcuk highlighted the similarities between the two countries as he said the practices of secularism must be shaped with an unbiased understanding of the state towards freedom of thoughts and beliefs.
Selcuk also said democracy frequently deviates from its course at such times the ruling elite do not believe in the public.
The issue of secularism and its practices, one of the most important similarities between the two countries, was also on the agenda.
Touraine's warning "Let's defend secularism without letting it to become very poor culturalism," was interesting.
The eminent sociologist asserted France needs to change its attitude towards the EU as well; he especially underlined that Turkey must be able to make contributions in this.
Ahmet Insel's approach to the issue brought a different aspect to the problems between the two countries.
"In republican countries where symbolic principles are emphasized, we are having difficulty in producing solutions to the problems. By rejecting innate demands, the principles such as single nation, single state, single language, and single culture can be defended, but advertising the principles cannot solve our problems. The problem is that the republican tradition has never been interested in the democratic structure of the republic."
Famous sociologist and writer Gilles Kepel pointed out there is no single type of Muslim and there are many different groups in France acting in the name of Islam, and he criticized Interior Minister Sarkozy, a favorite candidate in the upcoming presidential elections and an opponent of Turkey, saying: "Sarkozy seeks an Islam that support him."
Professor Gole asserted it is always considered necessary that the secularism in Turkey should be similar with that in France, and commented: "If there is a secularism problem in France, it is thought there must be one in Turkey as well. Turkey's secularism is now perceived as the problem of France, too."
Gole also said the experience of Turkey showed that secularism is not a prerequisite for democracy. (By Zafer Ozcan, Paris)
- Created on .