‘Politics and Civil Society do not Know Each Other Well Enough’

One of the most important outputs of the research is to show that politics and civil society do not know each other well enough. While defining civil society and its function, political actors make an assessment through the institutions or visible structures they have interacted with so far. However, politics tends to view civil society only as the demanding party. This causes politicians to distance themselves from civil society. Politicians generally either deal with the dialogue they have established with civil society as they establish with the electorate, or they establish it by coming together in certain conflict areas. When civil society organizations come into contact with politicians, they refrain from appearing engaged in politics and try to establish an equal dialogue with all parties.

‘Politics, Like the Civil Sphere, has Narrowed’

Another important finding that stands out in the research is that the interviewed stakeholders stated that politics, like the civic space, is shrinking. In other words, it is stated that it is getting harder and harder to work in the field of politics. Political parties, like CSOs, have problems in terms of freedom of expression and association, and in many provinces, they cannot go to the streets. This causes the social impact of politics to decrease. It is seen that polarization is experienced not only in the civil sphere but also in the political sphere.

‘If the Autonomy of Civil Society is Ensured, its Relationship With Politics and Decision Mechanisms can be Established in a Healthier Way’

There is strong agreement on the need for civil society to be independent of its resources. There is a prevailing view that civil society can become more independent and impartial if CSOs are financially supported by the public administration in a fair and independent manner. However, it is seen that politicians can become more open to dialogue with an autonomous and independent civil society structure.

Among the solution proposals produced by the research to the question of how an effective dialogue between civil society and politics is possible; the need for a legal regulation on the participation of politics and civil society in decisions comes to the fore. However, civil society is expected to communicate with politicians in a more deliberative language.

‘Civil Society Demands Freedom of Thought and Expression from Politics’

In the research, which also includes suggestions about what civil society can demand from politics; Topics such as ensuring freedom of thought and expression, democratizing the functioning of social justice mechanisms and legal justice mechanisms, ensuring more independent supervision of civil society activities, and preventing the prevention of the activities of non-profit organizations by Law No. 7262, which was adopted under the name of preventing the financing of terrorism.

The full report can be accessed at the link here.

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Hierarchical Relationship Form and Mentality Must Change!

The first point agreed by all five participants is that the form and mentality of the hierarchical relationship between civil society and politics needs to change. Etyen Mahcupyan says that there should be a “transformation of the mindset that will understand the value of NGOs” and that a new form of relationship between politics and civil society should be produced through this transformation. According to Mahchupyan, the scientists should be involved in a new relation between the civil society and the politicians, and the role of Science in shaping the new form of relationship should not be denied.

Similarly, Gülseren Onanç sees it possible for the civil society to regain its self-confidence by taking the power of civil society from the rights it defends by changing the hierarchical relationship between the two actors and leaving their place to an egalitarian structure: There is a need for a political understanding that perceives the politicians as “servants” in an egalitarian structure to be established between the two actors.

Participants who agree on the need to change the relationship between the two actors, as Necla Zarakol stated, at the first stage, should only listen and empathize with each other, and efforts should be made for this: “No one should be in debt to anyone” in the relationship to be established between politicians and civil actors who listen to each other.

Civil Society Must Be Strengthened to Change the Relationship Between the Two Actors

According to Muammer Bilgiç, who stated that the relationship between civil society and politicians should be strengthened in order to change, “If you do not have power, you only make a request, but if you have the power, you will do what you want to do.” In other words, rather than waiting for a change in the understanding of politicians, civil society can create a mechanism of pressure on politicians by increasing its own power and effectiveness.

Civil Society Must Be Independent

Stating that the independence of NGOs in terms of both financial and contractual terms is very critical, Mahçupyan said that a regulation can be made that will enable NGOs that fulfill certain criteria to provide minimum financial support from the government for the maintenance of their assets and this will enrich the public area in Turkey.

Civil Society Should Be Able To Develop Policies

Gülseren Onanç stated that civil society should develop itself in a way to develop policies and, moreover, should become partners with politicians, and in order to put pressure on the governments, an intellectual infrastructure that can convince the masses should be established. She notes that it is necessary to increase public awareness and pressure on this issue. According to Onanç, the effective use of social media plays an important role in the ownership of a wide audience of civil society’s case.

Similarly, Fuat Keyman argued that the civil society should shift not only to its own business but also to policymaking related to the better governance of Turkey. While doing this, she states that there are no longer only civil society actors in the field of civil society, but a new locality area where there are also activists and cooperatives.

Civil Society Should Be Able To Contact All Segments and Place Trust

Unlike Onanç, Muammer Bilgiç thinks that civil society should contact all the social groups in order to find a place in the face of politicians as a powerful actor and tools such as social media cannot increase the power of NGOs without direct contact. “When the number of contacts increases, the effect of civil society will increase as well. People primarily prioritize the trustworthiness of people with whom they are in close contact, rather than their opinions, ”Bilgiç thinks that regardless of what idea or ideology, building trust is the most effective way to begin with.

Fuat Keyman also says that “A relation should be established with other actors by including new and different actors in the field of civil society,” and adds that in this way, civil society can increase its influence by ensuring cooperation and inclusiveness.

“Civil Society Must Be Inclusive, Reading the ‘New Local’ Conditions Well”

Fuat Keyman, who lists the most comprehensive proposals on how the relationship between the two actors can change, underlines that civil society must have the capacity to produce policies for better a governance of Turkey through the concept of “new locality”. Keyman points out that the concept of “new locality” should be considered simultaneously together with the globalization and the positive environment that is emerging for civil society should be evaluated.

According to Keyman, the main issues that stand out in the new relationship between the civil society and the political actors on the axis of new locality are:

1-The local governments, the opposition and the power must be serious and reliable on both co-operation and inclusive on the basis of rights and freedoms.

2- It is very important that civil society actors read the process well and engage with each other and increase cooperation.

3- Taking into account alliances in politics in Turkey, apart from these alliances, civil society and a policy based on “new locality” (taking into account very important issues such as unemployment, urban poverty, food) civil society must adapt to the new parameters of politics; they must enter into an appropriate mode of action.

”Keyman said that civil society should localize itself, and also be inclusive with global and other non-governmental organizations, ” and added that the conditions for this are slowly emerging.

He thinks that in the course of globalization, the concept of new locality will become more and more important and that the solution of Turkey’s problems will begin to be determined more on the basis of this course, not just political parties and leaders.

This concept of “new locality” should be emphasized and a positive environment for civil society is emerging in this period.

4- The civil society can increase its capacity through a network of interactions from local to global (local local governments, global actors, European Union, United Nations).

5- According to the relationship between New locality and globalism, it is very important that NGOs engage in an effort to increase their influence. It is very important to fight not only on identity and democracy, rights, but also on the realization of their basic needs in the local governments, which will be shaped by the understanding of “new locality” in Turkey.

Here the principle of equality is very important. They should position themselves in a triangle based on the rights, dignity and equality. They have to be as flexible as possible, so they don’t get bulky. In this way, by reading the new world well, the actors need to restructure themselves according to the new conditions.

6- A non-governmental organization should maintain a balance in the relationship between the capacity and the legitimacy while acting with the understanding of “new locality”, and not reduce legitimacy while increasing capacity.

Fuat Keyman believes that civil society should strengthen itself by reading the new conditions well on the axis of the concept of’ new local’, highlighting inclusiveness and collaborating with other actors.

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