There are incredible similarities between the “impeachment process” aimed at U.S. President Donald Trump, and the “multinational interventions” aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey.
The language used, the methods applied, the targeted goal, the force of the power fight within the system, the role given to the streets and institutes, the manner in which they are reflected to the public, and in many more aspects, the internal showdown in the U.S. seems like something we experienced previously. In a very familiar, very vivid manner.
Trump’s Oct. 19, “Stop the Coup” message was met with surprise by the whole world.
Yes, there was a deep struggle in the U.S., aimed at toppling Trump before his term in office was over, and Trump was aiming to “corrode the established order.” Yet this fight was now being discussed using the term “coup.” The U.S. president, through this message, was declaring to the world how crucial the situation really is.
Though we are quite familiar with coup discussions, we had never before discussed the U.S.’s internal showdown using these terms – and never seen it discussed in such a way. We are encountering something new. The U.S., which carried out dozens of coups in Turkey, Indonesia, Central America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa for decades, was now discussing the coup within. What has the world come to?
It did not take long for the precursor of the “coup” debate to come out. It was revealed that Mark Zaid, the lawyer investigating Trump’s discharge posted tweets on Nov. 6, 2019, saying, “#coup has started. First of many steps. #rebellion. #impeachment will follow ultimately. #lawyers.”
It is so much like the statements of those trying to topple Erdoğan in Turkey.
Trump’s fight against the establishment in the U.S. is very similar to Erdoğan’s fight against the “established order.” We are watching their fights with the strong leader profiles against the established order to reform, change, transform, and as a matter of fact, “re-establish.”
Surely this results in deep repercussions for all of Turkey’s regional policies, its relations with the U.S. and Europe, its perception of the region, strong state perception, regional perception, and radical changes aimed at this.
It reflects through the regional and global stage as the “second great establishment” after the founding of the Republic. It provides very strong motivation from foreign policy to defense, economy to technology, but especially to national awareness and understanding.
A brand-new Turkey is being built, a new power is being built, and this power is sensed in every area. This is the reason behind all the conflicts Turkey is currently involved in. However, it is impossible to build that power before passing this threshold.
The fight, the showdown in the U.S. is still new. The established order is very powerful and extremely determined. Yet, Trump is shaking this system, confusing it with persistent, asymmetrical blows. He is ruining its plans and paralyzing it. Trump’s current blows are the “warm-up” rounds of the showdown. Much harder blows will shake the U.S. established order.
From this angle, the fight in U.S. internal politics is going to get rougher, more global. It is going to produce new terms, new positions, new models and practices.
Trump has taken Erdoğan, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, as role models. He is using their methods. He is using their experiences in showdown within the system.
Looking at the “coup” discussion in the U.S., the process Turkey has gone through what appears to have become a sort of international experience.
We are now in the era of powerful leaders like Erdoğan, Putin and Trump. Countries that have no leader are solidifying their central power domains. Such a global storm is fast approaching that the West’s central powers – including the U.S. establishment – cannot possibly resist against it.
It is possible to say Trump’s impeachment process will end in failure. And it will not only end with this – Trump will also very likely win the next elections. We might witness a sort of “American Perestroika” during Trump’s second term.
All countries’ and powers’ axis have shifted. The world’s center is changing. Therefore, it is not possible to understand the world of the future or reach the right conclusion through old statements, through outdated conceptions.
French President Emmanuel Macron declared NATO’s “brain death.” Well, hello. That was two decades ago. The winds will blow a lot stronger. Everybody must change their tune.
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