The University of Alabama at Birmingham Office of Media Relations
August 30, 1999
Contact: Gail Short
205-934-8931
[email protected]
QUAKE IN TURKEY COULD MEAN RESURGENCE OF ISLAMIST PARTY
STORY: UAB political scientist Nikolaos Zahariadis, Ph.D., says the recent tragedy in Turkey could strengthen the Islamist leaders in that country.
WHO: Nikolaos Zahariadis, Ph.D., is a UAB political scientist and the author of several books, including "Contending Perspectives in International Political Economy," Harcourt Brace (1999), and "Theory, Case and Method in Comparative Politics" Harcourt Brace (1997). He also has written numerous articles and book chapters on NATO policy, the Balkans and the European Union.
WHAT: Zahariadis says there is a rising alienation of the Turkish people from the government and the country's elite. "The Turkish people, traditionally Islamist, are in a country where the government banned the Islamist party. So the people have little trust in the government. On the other hand, in the individual towns and cities in Turkey, there are some very popular Islamist mayors, who are perceived by the people as leaders who can get things done. Because the government has been so ineffective in the aftermath of the quake, it could lead to the rise of the Islamist party, which was renamed the Virtue Party."
"The earthquake is putting extra pressure on the government to show that it cares for the people. But Turkey is already struggling to reduce its expenditures as requested by the International Monetary Fund. Now because of the earthquake, Turkey must increase expenditures to rebuild the country."
CONTACT: Nikolaos Zahariadis at 205-934-3482 or at [email protected].
FYI: We are UAB, the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Please use our full name on first reference and UAB thereafter. Thank you for your interest.
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