International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

“In Algeria, what is fundamental is the state”

Masis Kürkçügil, Mohammed Harbi — 2026-05-01T07:16:21Z

In this previously unpublished interview conducted in June 2012, shortly before the fiftieth anniversary of Algerian independence, historian and former FLN leader Mohammed Harbi traces Algeria's political trajectory from colonial formation to post-independence bureaucratic rule.

- Features / Fourth International, Algeria, Historical events and figures, Features

“The absence of rules is the fundamental character of the regime”

Masis Kürkçügil — 2024-02-05T22:30:34Z

“Since we cannot separate foreign policy from domestic policy, Erdoğan will have to deal with domestic issues, especially economic and social problems, in the coming years. The absence of rules, the refusal to submit to any rules on the part of Erdoğan, is the fundamental characteristic of the regime”

- IV589 - February 2024 / Turkey

Peace in Kurdistan?

Masis Kürkçügil — 2013-08-27T15:08:59Z

The resistance at Taksim raised new questions as to the fate of the Kurdish resistance which has gone on for around thirty years at the cost of around 35,000 deaths. The question is whether an increasingly authoritarian regime can satisfy Kurdish expectations.

- IV463 - August 2013 / Turkey

After the Taksim revolt, whither Turkey?

Masis Kürkçügil — 2013-08-26T22:06:55Z

The explosion of anger on 31 May 2013 which has still not died down was a unique movement in Turkey. According to Interior Ministry figures, 2.5 million people took to the streets. There were four deaths and 4600 wounded, including 600 police officers. Thousands of people were held in custody, and people who took part in the demonstrations from their homes by banging on pots and pans were not included in these figures.

- IV463 - August 2013 / Turkey

The path of the “Islamist movement”

Masis Kürkçügil — 2013-08-20T09:51:26Z

The “Islamist movement” which, since the transition to multi-partyism after World War II, had found a niche in the parties of the centre right â€” first inside the Democratic Party (DP) and then after the coup d'état in 1960, in the Justice Party (AP) â€” first formed an independent political party in the late 1960s.

- IV463 - August 2013 / Turkey

The Taksim resistance

Masis Kürkçügil — 2013-08-18T23:37:17Z

There is a huge gap between the mass discontent and the socialist movement, as is shown by the fact that the people who participated in the résistance at Taksim are not affiliated to any political party. It was also the first time that most of them had taken part in political action. Moreover, many even expressed the need for a new political party.

- IV463 - August 2013 / Turkey

Riots and police violence in Turkey

Masis Kürkçügil — 2013-06-05T19:59:26Z

The spontaneous movement that started in Istanbul has taken on an unprecedented dimension in the history of the country and now touches sixty-seven of the eighty-five major cities in Turkey.

- IV461 - June 2013 / Turkey

Coalition falls apart

Masis Kürkçügil — 2002-09-12T00:00:00Z

A general election in Turkey seems likely in November, against a background of political and economic crisis. IV's correspondent in Turkey, Erdal Tan, spoke to Masis Kürkçügil, a member of the leadership of the Ã–DP on the origins of this crisis.

- IV343 - September 2002 / Turkey