In our article last week, we started to talk about the trends that emerged after the 1960s. While we said that four different trends came to the fore, we tried to briefly explain the first three of them. In this article, we will look at Milli Görüş Movement as the fourth trend and where it corresponds in politics. Milli Görüş, as a political movement within the existing structure, has a separate place from other tendencies with its discourse and actions, its projects and its perspective on the world.
Again last week, while talking about the first three trends, we stated that they do not have a problem with the basic functioning of the current system. We can say that there is a difference in terms of better execution of the existing trends for these tendencies, whether they act on an ideological ground or feed on a populist discourse.
At this point, Milli Görüş has always kept on its agenda the claim that the basic parameters of the system are wrong, both at the national and international level. The claim that the foundation stones of the system in economic, political and social aspects, carried out by our Erbakan Hodja on the theory of rights, were misaligned, brought along the search and proposal for a new system. We can see the slogans of Great Turkey Again and a New World as the basic mottos of this proposal. The root and leaf metaphor he gives over a tree reveals this claim and purpose.
In a political system where the majority is the main determinant, it is of course difficult to set out and move forward with these claims. Already in our recent political history, we can easily see that the majority is nested in the other three tendencies. Milli Görüş has always maintained its claim that there can be a radical change, despite the majority of the other tendencies' pragmatic approaches that have turned into a vicious circle. From this point of view, it should be accepted that, although he appears to be politically disadvantaged, he can carry out a positive policy as long as he can melt the reasons for preference of the majority with his ideals.
It is known that it is difficult to make politics over ideals. It is necessary to both pursue their own truths and convey it to the majority of the people. Of course, this is difficult to achieve, but possible. Milli Görüş set out with an effort to show its will to realize this possibility. Otherwise, he did not accept the convenience of acting with the appeal of populist politics or the comfort of ideological politics.
While trying to draw attention to the main issues without getting into the whirlpool of daily political debates, the Milli Görüş movement also succeeded in making its ideals armor for itself and not detaching from the reality of life. We can understand this from his 50 years of political experience, producing language and discourse according to the needs of the time.
Here lies the password of succeeding to hold on to politics for 50 years without deviating from its line. For this reason, Milli Görüş Movement's ability to increase its influence in politics for another 50 years and move towards its ideals depends on its ability to catch up with the language and communication style of the time. The differences in the methods, discourse and language used by Milli Görüş in its political adventure may be illuminating for the upcoming processes.
This is neither contrary to the mission of Milli Görüş, nor is it an indication of moving away from its ideals. It is just a method that allows the people to meet with ideals.