Earthquake Exposes Fault Lines in Turkey, Prompting Call for New Attitude Towards Knowledge and Expertise

On February 6, a massive earthquake hit south and central Turkey and northwestern Syria, resulting in the loss of more than 46,000 lives. The disaster exposed the widespread corruption in Turkey, particularly in the shoddy construction contracts approved by the government despite tightened regulations adopted after the 1999 Izmit earthquake. The government's disregard for scientific knowledge and expertise has further deepened the divide between the country's scientists and academics and a regime that ignores and undermines their warnings.

Members of Turkey's scientific community of geologists, engineers, and architects had predicted the possibility of an earthquake, warning the public and government about active earthquake fault lines, including Professor of Geology Naci Gorur. While earthquakes are challenging to predict, following international scientific and technological guidelines could have lessened the devastation to life and property. These guidelines include construction and safety codes and preparations of large empty spaces in the city centers where people can gather in case of an earthquake. However, the Erdogan government granted zoning amnesties to contractors, allowing them to ignore these guidelines and focus on monumental building projects.

Erdogan's ambitious construction projects include the new Istanbul Airport, which opened in October 2018 and has a planned capacity of 200 million passengers per year, making it one of the world's largest airports. However, this airport and other infrastructure projects have been criticized for being irrational endeavors that are environmentally harmful. Erdogan's economic strategy, including keeping interest rates low for years, has led to a significant drop in the Turkish lira's value, making it difficult for citizens to maintain financial stability.

Erdogan's authoritarian rule and dismissal of scientific facts have left Turkey struggling to maintain a multiparty democracy. His disdain for the media, universities, academics, and scientists has deprived Turkey of vital assets. Political theorist Hannah Arendt argued that defiance of reality and remoteness from facts were the hallmarks of totalitarian thinking. Erdogan's actions and statements echo this mindset. The earthquake has provided Erdogan with an opportunity to suspend university education and shift it online, causing difficulties for young people already affected by the pandemic.

As Turkey marks the centenary of the Turkish Republic on October 29, 2023, its citizens find themselves demoralized by two decades of Erdogan's rule. Many fear that elections scheduled for June 2023 may not be held or will be postponed until the hostility toward his party has subsided. With martial law declared in earthquake-affected provinces, Erdogan may prolong his rule by postponing elections until his fortunes seem more secure. The earthquake has revealed Turkey's need to address the divide between its scientific community and the government's disregard for knowledge and expertise, along with the corruption that underlies Erdogan's 20-year rule.