He is a man with dreams, but without vision. He is a man of desires, but no ideals. He is a man with guidance, but without principles.
He is not a democrat. Though he can act like one. He doesn’t mind democracy as long as he is in line with the majority, or the majority is in line with him. The direction also doesn’t matter. He probably never internalized democratic concepts, but he does believe in some of them. Some of them he secretly resents, but within time learned to put up with.
He is not cultured. When stuck he resorts to his shopkeeper and footballer derived examples. Both of which he had actually been in the past. Would not be a problem, if he were able to use some other examples from time to time or as necessary; but he is just not able to. He is willing to learn, but it is probably too late for him – just not enough time, too busy being a politician for a long time now. You might run into him trying to use concepts from game theory or international relations, with no theoretical background. So, he tries. And mostly fails. As he never truly, deeply understands what he actually says.
Some in the world thinks he is an oppurtunist and pragmatist. He probably is. He probably should be. He is a politician and prime minister of a country in the world in 2011, what were you expecting? Not more than Berlusconi, not more than Sarkozy, not more than Cameron I can assure you.
He declared he cannot be secular, only a state can be secular. He also declared as a prime minister he will do whatever is expected of a prime minister of a secular country. He does not and will not say he is secular because he believes a true believer of Islam cannot seperate worldly things and religion in his personal life. Yet, he thinks he can act like one as demanded by his title? He is conflicted. He is confused. Again, he does not truly understand or is capable or open enough to conceptualise secularism; so resorts back to the learnings of his past, which is heavily influenced by Islam. But in a world where Bush and Obama quotes the Bible and UK has a queen who is crowned in a church, is his behaviour or standing outrageous? I doubt so.
So, is he an Islamist as some claims? Might have been one at some time in the past. Although I even doubt that. Probably grew out of this idea, as it is not primary to his desires and ego.
For years, when he was younger, he ‘followed’ a heavily Islam guided politician, namely Necmettin Erbakan. He, then, in a way again to be explained by his desires, cut ties with him. Changed some of his political conduct and declared he has changed. Probably did. But his ability and possibility to follow someone with religious dictations, still stand true. This scares many Turkish people. But again, it is too late for him to change again. It also probably does not suit his bigger desires and his ego to act under his religion based desires.
He is not a tolerant person. Has clear oppressive behaviour and anger issues. Though within years thank to his well fed ego and feeling of superiority, backed up with quite some power, he does indeed act and learned to act more and more tolerant. But it is not a quality of his character, but more of an accident of who he has become.
He is a man of honour, I guess. But his honour is not to principles, righteousness or justice; his honour is to his loyalties – his loyalties in decreasing order are to his family, to people who act with him and within his directions, to his countrymen as he describes them and to people from his religion, again as he describes it.
When he talks out of pre-prepared text he simply stumbles. Only if the topic can be resolved within his own basic morality he might be able to hold tight. Or maybe if the topic is something he talked about from prepared text many times before. He is clever – probably better defined as savvy; he is definitely not wise, probably a little above average intelligence.
While he was a politician, using his influence, he bought shares from a chocolate company’s distribution chain. Sold them when he became prime minister. Still, earned millions and millions of dollars. Used his influence to get scholarships and work for his children in the US. He is a trader, more likely a shopkeeper, with good connections. Many claims he earned lots more from lots of more different connections. Yet, since he became prime minister it can be said corruption decreased consistently. People who were corrupt under his rule were somehow disconnected from the party, although not punished or prosecuted.
Is he charismatic? I have to say so. Have to, because his charisma does not influence me but it clearly influences many. A lot of people who are not unintelligent, crazy, naive or clueless. Though his charisma is simplistic, a voodoo juju, it still works fine.
He has beliefs. He is a strong believer. His beliefs are varied, and old fashioned and hard to change. Beliefs, most of which are probably not formed through his own thinking but his upbringing. He believes in a more peaceful world. He believes when he says that Israel is wrong in his actions against Palestinians. He believes that Turkey can become a great country, and he certainly believes he can be the one to achieve that.
He does not have good manners. He can easily be sexist or racist or just simply vulgar. He doesn’t have a true compassion. All his compassion, his singing and crying (which he does from time to time) are reserved for people of his loyalties. He is not a man of diplomatic capabilities. He is not a man of empathy.
So is he a good statesman? He is above average. Probably better than most of the previous ones Turkey had. Still, Turkey does deserve better. Has a particularly reasonable team of advisors that help him. Has a reasonably competent group of ministers that support him. He acts in accordance within realities dictated by the global world. He does the least, but still does, of what is dictated by the changing desires and improvement of general Turkish public. All these, together with his ability to work hard, balance his bad qualities so that he can act as a proper statesman. And probably in the end, did contribute quite a lot to Turkey.
Many in Turkey, more than in the rest of the world, might claim he is evil. Is he? He is not. He is just one man with some underdeveloped, half realistic dreams, desires and wants. He has a big enough ego to help him work towards these goals, and a conscience barely enough to keep him crossing the line, whatever that line is, while trying to achieve his dreams.
He is a man of this world of this age. Nothing glorious, nothing significant. A man, that circumstances and some characteristics led to his significant position today. A position he uses to do some good in his own understanding, and some good for himself, and mostly no good because he is mostly no good.
He is just a man, who for the time being, from time to time, forgets he is just a man.
Remember him not being a tolerant person? He sues people who criticises him. Hopefully and thankfully I am out of his radar. These are merely my observations. My only reservation is that he is a man full of surprises (some caused by him, some just happens around him), so he still might suprise me or prove me wrong. And I might be wrong in the first place. But I can assure you this ‘analysis lookalike commentary’ is closer than those biographies of grandeur or evil that you might read in the world renown publications or in politically motivated comments that follow them.