Subject: Trans-Europe Express: The charge of fascism - Erdogan vs Germany
From: EurActiv <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:03:47 +0000

Trans-Europe Express: The charge of fascism - Erdogan vs Germany    
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    <http://eurac.tv/74MH?sid=33541>    This week in Europe 10.03.2017,
noon

       = The charge of fascism: Erdogan vs Germany =

      === By Joel Schalit ===

 Normally, the accusation is reversed. Erdogan undoubtedly knew that when
he accused Germany on Sunday of "fascist actions" typical of the Nazi era,
for cancelling rallies to drive support for an April referendum granting
himself broad new powers.

 Yet, the significance of reversing the hackneyed War on Terror reference,
‘Islamofascism’, got lost in the media frenzy, as Germany’s political
echelon recoiled in horror at being tarred with such a deliberately
offensive jibe.

 Few slurs have been more misused of late in German politics, in reference
to Merkel and her coalition’s diversity-friendly politics and response to
the refugee crisis, coming, more often than not, from right-wing
extremists.

 But here was one of the world’s most powerful Muslim leaders, dishing
out the same dirt. The Turkish president might as well have been repping
for the populist Alternative für Deutschland party. The rhetoric was the
same.

 Though Merkel and her lieutenants did their best to appear conciliatory,
there was an uncharacteristic amount of condescension in their responses,
which could not help but highlight the sense of superiority the Turkish
president was targeting.

 One unnamed CDU official went so far as to call Erdogan “childish”,
while a CSU leader predictably went for the jugular, calling him the
“despot of the Bosporus”, as though to confirm the Turkish leader’s
point that the Germans are disrespectful.

 Yet, the affair did what it was supposed to do. Germany’s political
echelon walked right into Erdogan’s trap and helped legitimate the sense
of siege and victimisation the AKP chief continually appeals to in his
efforts to scale back Turkish democracy.

 It’s impossible to have imagined the Germans responding differently.
This was a deliberately crass manoeuvre, meant for domestic political
consumption, with a very limited scope for enlightened responses.
Particularly during an election season, in which immigration, and Islam,
are enormously charged topics.

 Predictably, little, if any deference was paid to how it would help
tarnish the image of Turkish Germans and reinforce resentment of Muslims.
Inevitably, Erdogan’s insouciance would be a boon to German populists,
and those members of Merkel’s governing CDU party who remain
uncomfortable with her pro-refugee agenda.

 But you get what you pay for. To have assumed that the Turkish president
would not impact or harm this German government’s efforts to promote
tolerance and the right to asylum remains a terrible mistake, in keeping
with the EU’s head-scratching reliance on Erdogan to help manage the
refugee crisis.

 How could Germany not expect such rhetoric from the man who deliberately
reignited Turkey’s civil war with its Kurdish population? Aside from
being its own obvious refugee driver, the nationalist ideology behind it
smacks entirely of fascism. The exact kind that Erdogan reproaches Germany
for remaining guilty of.

 This ought to be the biggest takeaway from Erdogan’s charge. The fascism
tag remains relevant, not just because he is using it as cover for his own
politics, but because many of the crises associated with it have returned
and are being contributed to, in different ways, by everybody.

      == The Inside Track ==

  Hard to stay excited <http://eurac.tv/74LS?sid=33541>. Support for EU
accession among Serbians is falling, and it may be a result of a loss of
confidence in the chances of being admitted, a recent poll by the Belgrade
Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) shows.

  Belgrade calling. <http://eurac.tv/74LT?sid=33541> Democracy is in crisis
throughout the EU. But the version taking shape in south-eastern Europe is
especially problematic. A new authoritarianism, mixing nationalism and
neoliberalism, is taking shape there, and Brussels ought to take the lead
in stopping it.

  Restating the obvious. <http://eurac.tv/74LU?sid=33541> The EU warned
that the Western Balkans risk becoming a “chessboard” in a game with
Moscow, as Britain accused Russia of meddling in the region. Federica
Mogherini said there was “profound” concern about a region where
historic tensions were coming to a boil again.

  Freedom is so 20th Century <http://eurac.tv/74LV?sid=33541>. Civil
society is an essential part of any functioning democracy. While Budapest
talks of dialogue and free debate, its actions speak of a slide towards
authoritarianism, writes Neil Campbell.

  They just want Russian money <http://eurac.tv/74LW?sid=33541>. Hungary
does not care about the requirements imposed by the European Commission on
Paks II, energy analyst András Deák told EURACTIV Slovakia’s Pavol
Szalai.

  Gag order <http://eurac.tv/74LX?sid=33541>. European Parliament
Vice-President Ramón Luis Valcárcel (EPP) wanted to impose a “tough
penalty” on Polish MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke, whose repeated misogynistic
tirades have become an embarrassment to the institution. He got his wish on
Thursday, according to S&D chief Gianni Pittella.

  So much for the Cold War. <http://eurac.tv/74LY?sid=33541> Poland’s
mainstream parties are increasingly out of tune with voters, according to a
new survey. Unsurprisingly, the most popular hail from the far right and,
unfortunately, own the youth vote, writes Karolina Zbytniewska.

  Redistribute the foie gras <http://eurac.tv/74LZ?sid=33541>. Food quality
in Western Europe can differ greatly to what Central and Eastern European
shops stock on their shelves. S&D MEP Daciana Sârbu spoke to EURACTIV
Romania about the issue and promoting local produce.

  Blame the Russians <http://eurac.tv/74L_?sid=33541>. European Union
foreign ministers on Monday approved the setting up of a central
headquarters for joint EU military missions. As the EU contends with the
refugee crisis and rising rightwing populism, the appetite for more defence
at European level has escalated.

  Never trust a superpower <http://eurac.tv/74L-?sid=33541>. The EU must
counter the “big lies” coming from countries such as Russia and the
United States, which “destabilise” the bloc, European Parliament
Vice-President Ramon Luis Valcárcel Siso told EURACTIV Spain.

  The Americans are impossible. <http://eurac.tv/74M0?sid=33541> Donald
Trump’s Republicans are preparing reforms that would significantly affect
the rules of trade throughout the world.  AktuálnÄ›.cz
<http://eurac.tv/74M0?sid=33541>, on how it looks from Prague.

  Told you so. <http://eurac.tv/74M1?sid=33541> Curbs on civil liberties,
both online and in everyday life, prove to be a “recruiting tool for
extremists”, MEPs heard on Wednesday night, at a debate on combatting
violent extremism and restoring citizenship.

  Why not include banlieues? <http://eurac.tv/74M2?sid=33541> Slums develop
in response to poor city planning and a lack of affordable housing. While
they exist all over the world, up to 90% of the population of the poorest
countries live in these insecure settlements, Pierre-Arnaud Barthel told 
EURACTIV France <http://eurac.tv/74M3?sid=33541>.

 *Views are the author's.*

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1999-2016. Euractiv.com plc

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