Middle East
Egypt, and Israel cannot explore or construct with- actions become clearer. The steady increase in Turkish foreign policy assertiveness over the past out Turkish permission. few years, much less the recent emboldened deciMid-August saw the East Mediterranean tensions sions, are not planned neo-Ottoman expansionist rise substantially with Turkish and Greek warships manoeuvres. Turkey’s actions are attempts to secoming head to head two days after Turkey sent an cure their territorial integrity, break their regional energy exploration ship into Greek-claimed mar- isolation, increase their economic independence itime territory. This latest wave of tension escala- and, crucially, distract a disquieted population in a tion brought with it increased possibility for multi- period defined by a pandemic.The frequently citnational conflict as Greece received open support ed term ‘neo-Ottomanism’ loads Erdogan’s foreign from Egypt and Israel while France dispatched policies with imperialist and expansionist connowarships into the contested waters. Tension es- tations it does not deserve. Pointing at popular calations have been a long-running theme in this rhetoric, it is tempting to agree but a deeper look region, thus, recent developments do not present into Turkey’s instability, especially those implea significant shift in regional harmony. But, when mented since the Covid-19 crisis, tells a different Turkey’s Covid-heightened internal insecurity is story – one of defensive and responsive actions. considered, the reasons behind Turkey’s recent
Voices from UAE and Turkey written by Clarissa Fraschetti
Photo: Istanbul disinfected mosques to make them ready for reopening, Yasin Akgul/Xinhua, Global Times, 2020.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed life as we had known it, causing an unprecedented economic recession alongside socio-political changes. The Middle East is no different. These wide-ranging changes are exemplified by Turkey’s and the UAE’s respective responses to the crisis and how these have impacted their economies and the youthful generation. Living in countries with varied circumstances and political systems of governance, parts of this article were informed by citizens we spoke to, hoping to make sense of the recent upheavals. Such opinions will be fundamental in
making sense of the governments’ domestic policies and choices. Following a fast rise in cases and deaths in March, Turkey began its struggle with Covid-19 by implementing novel partial lockdowns, encouraging remote working and remaining indoors where possible. Similar to cities across Europe, Turkish urban centres were described as ghost towns during the select lockdown days. Rural areas saw a slower response as these policies were not implemented as stringently and claims of Covid-19’s inexistence spread quickly. On the other hand, around the same time, the UAE quickly
Autumn 2020 • Dialogue 75
