Abdulkerim Diktaş / Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty Member

President and AK Party Chairman Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced his vision document with the emphasis on the “Century of Turkey” on October 28, 2022. Exactly 37 days later, on 3 December 2022, the Chairman of the Republican People’s Party, Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, announced his vision document with the slogan “Call to the Second Century”. Let’s say in advance that both the judge and the opposition, with the image of a “century”, match the match and it is magnificent. Although vision statements have become a classic in the ruling wing over the years, it is the first in the theme and organization of the party wing.

In this article, which was written based on the importance of the issue, the vision documents were examined in a way with a voter concern and responsible citizen awareness, and the distinction and attitudes between the two approaches were tried to be revealed. Deductions made despite the declaration of withdrawals expressed here will be subjective for the purpose of evaluation by the reader. Because the individual tends to read the evaluations in the texts he reads from his own perspective. However, the vision document of the “Century of Turkey” must be privileged somewhere, in order to be able to access the contents. Although it is not yet known whether the vision document “Call to the Second Century” will be published on the web in detail, if it is published, a healthier comparison can be made. Considering these points, we begin our review…

A CALL TO CHALLENGE A CULTURE OF RECONCILIATION

While the “Century of Turkey” vision document reveals the understanding of politics based on consensus in the context of the “conservative democrat” political identity, it plans to gradually settle on a reformist plane. Accordingly, politics is also realistic, embracing, adapting to changes and determined to set out with high virtues. On the other hand, while the vision document “Call to the Second Century” was announced, similar virtues were expressed in the understanding of politics, but “There is no stigma; this will go to the bully! Everything they stole from the people will be given back to the people. The victory will be ours! For this; I say right nation! Never bow your head. Stand up, it’s expanding! Stand up women! Get up guys! From now on, nothing will be the same!” In his words, it is seen that the way of conciliatory politics is blocked in a way. These expressions, which are accepted by a part of the society as an open challenge, but expressing a century-old view, are expressions that contradict positive, conciliatory and peaceful politics.

While the “Century of Turkey” vision document is working under the title of “Politics” in terms of democracy, constitution and rights; advanced democracy, fight against tutelage, expanding the movement of political parties, new establishment efforts, superiority, national unity and brotherhood, fight against terrorism and internal security are discussed. Addressing these issues in holistic marriage is extremely important to a century-old vision. In the vision document of the “Call to the Second Century”, it is seen that the new constitution studies, the struggle with the tutelage centers, the elections and political parties, the fight against terrorism and internal security measures do not reveal a remarkable future design.

IS ECONOMIC WELL-BEING ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE FAMILY?

The “Century of Turkey” vision document includes the family in the first place while explaining its social policies under the title of “Society”. It is seen that the understanding of accepting existence in every platform as a political motto on the necessity of preserving the Turkish family structure continues to continue in the next century. The document, which describes the social expenditures, programs and survival losses made so far for the family, foresees the solid continuity of this institution that forms the structure of the society. On the other hand, in the vision document of “Call to the Second Century”, it is seen that apart from the protection of the economic welfare of the family, no design for the protection of the family structure has been disclosed. Accordingly, the most important problem of a family is the economy. It should not be overlooked that it is not correct to focus only on the economic status of the family and lineage in question, and that the other family that makes up the family should be given sufficient attention.

The “Century of Turkey” vision document deals with women, children, youth, the disabled, the elderly, martyrs and veterans, after the family, under the title of “Society”. In the women’s tip; Financial support programs are prepared for women entrepreneurs, and the use of women employees is explained in detail, as well as to prevent the seizure of women. In the case of children; Addressing issues such as the prevention of child abuse, the protection of care centers, the rights of children, the upbringing of children with a principle and value-centered approach, and the use of opportunities in education. What was seized after the children was handled and the fact that it constitutes the population segment in use revealed a future view that will realize the dynamism of the youth. In this direction, it is seen that the subjects such as university entrance, accommodation, nutrition, scholarship and loan opportunities, vocational education and regulation to reduce youth unemployment, the expenses of entrepreneurial youth, the place of young people in personal participation and post-career issues are discussed in order to dispose of cultural, artistic and sports properties of young people. The dissemination of tasks that have already come a long way, such as housing public services for people with disabilities, making public transport suitable, employing public personnel, and distributing care and care centers are discussed.

OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, RELATIVES OF MARTYRS AND VETERANS

As for those who do not talk about our elderly, they are described as ex-parents, what needs to be done to ensure healthy aging has been mentioned, and it has been emphasized that the period of home support and home care will be increased until the end. Finally, it was emphasized that our martyrs’ relatives and veterans benefit from public services in a privileged place. Under all these beliefs, they are in the understanding of the social state. In the vision document of “Call to the Second Century”, women, children, what has been achieved and the public support to be provided to them are emphasized. In Hacer Foggo’s speech, the future design of this cost was given wide coverage. However, there is no significant explanation about the situation of disabled people, the elderly, our martyrs and veterans.

Another topic of the “Century of Turkey” vision document is “Working Life and Social Security”. In this context, applications such as Social Security Reform, Labor Law, Employment Packages, Occupational Health and Safety Law and Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Officials were mentioned and the scope of these was discussed. In addition, it was mentioned that a new Collective Labor Relations Law, which puts union legislation and labor peace at the center, will be implemented. In order to overcome the problem of unemployment, which is the main source of unemployment, it was designed to provide vocational training to 400,000 people every year. By reconsidering the public personnel system, the implementation of a new public personnel system that responds to the conditions of the day and the services of the future has been put on the agenda. In addition, it is planned to provide income-expenditure growth to a large extent and to reduce the 1 percent limit of social security deficit to be paid to GDP. Finally, it has been declared that the developed countries of the informally employed will be reduced. In the vision document of “Call to the Second Century”, the issue of working life and social security was mentioned in Hacer Foggo’s speech, and there was no detailed design of the future apart from the general framework details. It is important to detail the work of this enterprise.

TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES

The “Century of Turkey” vision document also gave a wide coverage to the subject of “Education”. He did not extensively mention the practices that have been implemented such as the physical and technological advances at the education level of the borders, the quality structuring in education, the actions towards the opportunity targets, the innovations in vocational education, the dimensions of the university’s scope and capacity. In addition, YÖK will gain a new identity in terms of its structure and functioning, more encouragement for the social, cultural and sportive purposes of the young people who are educated, the spread of lifelong learning to all segments of the society, the fulfillment of the requirements of the distribution of information in education, the hatred in the textbooks. All elements that suggest hostility and hostility will be removed, anything that implies all kinds of othering, anything that is contrary to human rights and universal principles will be excluded from the field of education and training, that the culture of protecting our personal or social life practices and behaviors will be maintained, that the culture in which it is located will be maintained, that the culture in which our cultural climate is located in all kinds of ways. It has been emphasized that we will strive to keep different colors alive and develop them. In the vision document of “Call to the Second Century”; “To realize the development, we have the opportunity in education, the knowledge generation of our universities, the building of high talent and the comprehensive workforce to realize this deep-rooted scope. We will implement this quickly.” statement is included. In addition, Daron Acemoğlu from time to time emphasized the importance of education between the lines of his speech. Although these statements reveal a general spectrum, they signal that the opposition will implement a series of practices in education.

The most comprehensive title of the “Century of Turkey” vision document is “Economy”. Under this government, the government has spoken widely about the economic moves it has implemented so far. In addition to the emphasis on continuing to protect these gains in the next century, continuous growth, fairness, sharing, trust and stability, the establishment of the world’s top 10 economies, the increase of national income per capita, the scope of the next issues of industrial production and output are handled in a way. The vision document of “Call to the Second Century” is almost entirely about economics. Considering the results such as the introduction of foreign funds, technology-based explanations with foreign proposals and the implementation of orthodox economic policies, it is understood that the economy will form the body of the opposition’s politics in the next century, according to this document.

Although the “Turkish Century” has been completed according to the vision they put forward, the “Call to the Second Century” should be expanded, elaborated, promised things that appeal to people outside of the economy, and the arrangement of the articles should be made available on the web. It should be stated that the vision document of this visual content may be evaluated as incomplete or inadequate by the citizen.