Why Is The Public Like This?

BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- Domestic polls focusing on foreign policy show general public disagreement with government policies, as a recent large poll again demonstrated. The most striking finding of the German Marshall Fund's Transatlantic Trends poll, which included Turkey, is that most of the Turkish public believe that their only friends are fellow Turks, and that they don't trust or like foreign countries - including allies - very much. For example, according to the poll, Turkish 'warmth' toward the European Union (on a 100-degree 'thermometer' scale) comes in at a chilly 14, compared to 33 for the European Union, 18 for Russia and 8 for Israel.

The most interesting finding is that most Turkish people - 48 percent -want Turkey to act alone on foreign policy issues. On the other hand, only 3 percent want it to act in cooperation with the US, compared to 20 percent for the EU, and a rock-bottom 1 percent for Russia. These trends come a time when Turkey is pursuing an active foreign policy, trying to develop its relations with its allies and neighbors, vying for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, and working to help solve regional problems. At a time when the Turkish foreign policy has opened up to the world, why does the public want Ankara to turn its back on countries which are important for its foreign relations and act alone?

One factor is trust. Most of the public don't trust friendly and allied Western countries and institutions. Turkey's problems with the US and the EU created this crisis of confidence. The poll shows that 48 percent of the public wants Turkey to act alone, which shows that our lack of trust in others has led to self-confidence. This can be explained by the wish to pursue an independent foreign policy. The impression or belief that Turkey acts in line with Western wishes and pressure provokes certain circles to act independently.

Looking at the poll overall, we can see that the Turks feel considerable antipathy towards the West but also don't feel close to, for example, Russia and certain neighboring countries. This may be how the ordinary Ahmets and Ayses feel, but this can't be the reasonable foreign policy stance of a serious country located in a critical geography. It's natural for Turkey to take the foreign policy initiative, but acting alone would unnecessarily isolate us. Everyone knows what ends up happening to isolated countries.

The poll also shows that the public needs to be better informed about foreign policy issues. The way sometimes 40 percent or more of the people surveyed answered 'I don't know' proves this. The way to frustrate manipulative demagogues is to foster a well-informed public. Not just politicians, but also civil society and the media bear a great responsibility to do just this.