Encounters with the Third Kind: Turkey’s New Political Forces are Met by Old Politics

Demonstrations that commenced at the Gezi Promenade of Taksim Square at the end of May 2013 over plans to build a shopping mall were presenting a challenge to the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose appearance of invincibility had been considerably tarnished. Interviews with those participating at the demonstrations in Istanbul and sympathy rallies in other cities brought out two major complaints: the failure of government to consult the citizens in projects that affect their daily lives, and the implementation of a number of steps that were judged to intrude into the private lives of citizens.