Warning: mysqli_query() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 280

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

database error : - No database connections
(cached errors will attempt auto recovery within 5 minutes)

The site may be undergoing difficulties due to heavy load please try again later!

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

database error : - No database connections
(cached errors will attempt auto recovery within 5 minutes)

The site may be undergoing difficulties due to heavy load please try again later!

Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 339

Organized Labour in the Gezi Process

Warning: mysqli_query() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 280

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

database error : - No database connections
(cached errors will attempt auto recovery within 5 minutes)

The site may be undergoing difficulties due to heavy load please try again later!

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

database error : - No database connections
(cached errors will attempt auto recovery within 5 minutes)

The site may be undergoing difficulties due to heavy load please try again later!

Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 339

Warning: mysqli_query() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 280

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

Warning: mysqli_errno() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 677

database error : - No database connections
(cached errors will attempt auto recovery within 5 minutes)

The site may be undergoing difficulties due to heavy load please try again later!

Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, null given in /var/www/html/objects/sqllayer.inc on line 339

Reflections on a Popular Uprising and Weakened Organized Labour

The recent wave of resistance that spread from a park in one of the historic neighbourhoods of Istanbul, Turkey has evoked significant enthusiasm in and support from various movements and segments of populations in several countries. Although the park, which had been a temporary home for thousands of protestors for a couple of weeks, was forcibly and violently evacuated by the police on June 16th, the resistance continues in different forms and in numerous locations, both within and outside of Turkey. This unexpected and abrupt rebellion in a country, which has been presented for a decade by many international organizations and governments as a role model for the rest of the Middle East with its commitment to market reforms and ‘democratization,’ was a response to a number of factors and ongoing processes. If the most predominant of these were the increasingly authoritarian nature of the AKP (Justice and Development Party) rule, the others were the further neoliberalization of Turkish society, the utter failure of an increasingly interventionist Turkish foreign policy in the Middle East, and a complete disregard for and destruction of the environment in the service of capital across the country.

The state's response to the peaceful protests was brutal. Thousands were injured and four protestors have lost their lives. In addition to these, one police officer fell off a bridge and lost his life while chasing protestors. Despite the traumatic state violence and its human cost, the events since May 31 mark a turning point in the past thirty years if not, in the entire Turkish history. Such a spontaneous and unified resistance, in all its creative forms and colours, bringing together formerly divided and various segments of Turkish society, is unprecedented. While it is impossible to predict what course these protests will take and what consequences they will have for the Turkish society, it is clear that they have had one clear achievement, that is, they have succeeded in politicizing a dormant, apolitical generation that has been the product of the disastrous 1980 military coup.

Continue reading at