Anti-Americanism in Turkey 16%, Anti-Bush Perspective 71%
By Foreign News Desk Published: Sunday July 10, 2005 zaman.com
Although rumors continue that anti-Americanism has increased in Turkey, most people think the US administration and President George W. Bush are the two responsible figures for the worsening of bilateral relations.
Results of a public opinion poll conducted by Infakto Research Workshop upon the request of the Ari Movement were announced at a news conference Tuesday held at Istanbul's Marmara Hotel. The survey revealed that 46.7 percent of the 1,244 participants from 15 provinces in Turkey think Turkey-US relations are bad or very bad. Fifty-seven percent of participants blame the Washington administration and the US President for the bad course of bilateral relations and they think the US has threatened Turkey unjustly over recent years. Twenty-three percent, on the other hand, think Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government are responsible parties for the rocky relations.
As 32 percent of the participants believe relations will worsen, 35.5 percent think, "Turkey and the US rapidly dive for war". Twenty-eight percent express negative views on "Americans", 50 percent on "the US" and 71 percent on "Bush". Issues believed to have negative effects on Turkey-US relations are related to the Iraq war according to the poll. Turkish people refer to the Parliament's disapproval of the March 1 deployment motion, as giving no support to the US during the war, the Suleymaniye crisis, the condition of Kurds in northern Iraq, and the terrorist organization the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) as the most important negative factors affecting in bilateral relations.
On the other hand, developments having positive effects include PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's arrest and Washington's support for Turkey's European Union (EU) bid. The public opinion poll also indicated that 24 percent of Turks view US aid to Turkey following the August 17 earthquake positively. Thirty-four percent of participants think Turkey should develop cooperation with other countries. Germany comes first among these countries with 14 percent. The public view taken directs that Turkey should develop relations with Russia (nine percent), Muslim countries along with Turkic republics (six percent) as alternatives to the US.
Meanwhile, 65.7 percent of participants believe "Western countries want to disintegrate Turkey as they did the Ottoman Empire in the past" is true, 51.4 percent think the EU reform demands are similar to those of the Treaty of Sévres in 1920. While 70.5 percent believe the West supports the PKK, 51.7 percent argue, "No sacrifices should be given in foreign relations".
Four categories appear with regard to the US
Anti-Americans: This group is composed of those, who have completely negative perspectives regarding the US, the Americans and Bush. They are also against the American lifestyle. These 199 people make up 16 percent of survey participants.
Skeptics: A group making up 44-percent, approach the US and Bush negatively but not to all Americans and American popular culture.
Those having positive approaches: This group is composed of 330 participants, who view the US, Americans and the American popular culture positively.
Those having insufficient information: This group is made up of 162 participants having insufficient information about the US therefore failing to off an opinion to the questions.
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