BY NURAY MERT
RADIKAL- People say that the French rejection of the European Union Constitution won’t affect us so much. Yes, and storks bring babies, don’t they? This result was largely interpreted as part of two frameworks. One of them is the ostrich approach displayed by EU supporters, who present their wishes and longings as political evaluation. They say that the result won’t have a great impact on Turkey. On the other hand, the common tendency is to interpret the referendum’s results in terms of its relation to Turkey’s EU membership. Obviously, everything happening in Europe concerns Turkey generally, including its EU membership bid. However, the things happening in Europe as in the referendum in France are historic developments. European democracies are issuing urgent signals in all elections. In addition, Europe is experiencing one of the greatest political crises of the modern age. The meaning of this signal can’t be read and this crisis can’t be without comprehending something. First of all, the aim of the EU should be understood. Is it going to compete with the US or strengthen it? The answer to this question is uncertain. Now it seems that certain views led by Britain favor producing certain policies to strengthen it. Will France and Germany be able to stand against this? Will France leave Germany alone? Or will the entire EU share the same opinions? If the EU aims to become a secondary power following the US, leaving competing with it or creating an alternative to it aside, would democracy, the tradition of the welfare state and political liberalism still exist there? Is it possible to survive in the competitive global market by insisting on a welfare state? Aren’t racism and separatism the price of giving up the tradition of a welfare state? How will you be able to express yourself to France or the Netherlands, who will have to give up their jobs or social security for the sake of cheap labor? Sooner or later, won’t somebody say, ‘Immigrants and foreigners take your share of the cake, let’s expel them’? People are already saying this. Each country in Europe is leaning towards the right. A person who doesn’t want to face this might find such pretexts as ‘cultural disharmony.’ Now some people are citing such pretexts, latent separatism is increasing and the axis of political discussions is centered on the cultural axis. How can we talk about political liberalism in such an atmosphere? Then people will start to ask if it’s possible to maintain democracy in a single country or continent. When there is a huge reserve of cheap labor, there will be neither workers’ right to organize, nor cross-cultural peace. In such an atmosphere crime will rise and liberal and democratic policies will be given up. Those who support welfare will either withdraw within or take a step back from democracy. If these things are evaluated all together, we face a meaningful picture, one which is discouraging. If we can’t evaluate these issues correctly, we will be powerless to do anything to keep the EU and Turkey, even all of humanity, alive following the approaching doomsday.