Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that democracy is not only a form of government but also a value, stated that democracy begins in the family and that the concept of democracy should be kept alive within the family. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that democratic values have four pillars when examined from a psychological dimension, listing them as libertarianism, pluralism, participation, and accountability.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, pointed out the importance of democracy in the family in his statement on July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.
Democracy is an important value and must be kept alive in the family
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that naming this special day as the day of democracy and unity is very meaningful and said, “First, I want to evaluate what we understand by democracy. There is something I often emphasize: Democracy starts in the family. Because democracy is not just a form of government, but also a value. It is necessary to keep these values alive in the family.”
It is no coincidence that there are many discoveries in free societies
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that democratic values have 4 pillars when examined from a psychological perspective, and said, “The first is libertarianism, what is its opposite? Being authoritarian. If a parent is libertarian at home, children can ask them questions comfortably. The mother and father must explain it. In such a situation, talents develop. It is no coincidence that there are so many discoveries, like Silicon Valley, in societies we call high-security societies, where freedom is experienced and individual freedom is at its highest level.”
Libertarianism is also the locomotive of civilization
“Because people feel free, they are more open to new experiences,” said Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, adding, “Therefore, libertarianism is actually the locomotive of civilization. The second item in democratic values is pluralism. Not majoritarianism. Pluralism is not about everyone listening to one person's word at home. In a home, if a mother and father are pluralistic, when a child says ‘I want to be a Fenerbahçe fan’ even though everyone in the family is a Galatasaray fan, the father accepts it even if he doesn't like it. Saying ‘I like beans, everyone will eat beans’ at home is totalitarianism. If everyone wore the same thing, a mother without pluralism would argue with her child about ‘whether you wore the t-shirt or not’. However, a pluralistic mother would take out 4 t-shirts. She would ask, ‘My child, which one do you want?’ She would make one more appealing. The child chooses one and wears it. The child also satisfies their sense of autonomy by saying ‘I chose it’. Both the child is satisfied, and the mother does not lose control. Pluralism means thinking of many options. This is also important for mental development. Being open to new experiences, being exploratory is very important.”
Third value in democracy: Participation
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the third value in democracy is participation, saying, “That is, everyone's participation in decisions. For example, if a trip is to be made. It doesn't work when the father takes an individual step and says ‘We are going’. This is an authoritative behavior. Children of this era do not accept this. Moreover, if a problem arises at the end of the decision, it will be said ‘you never consulted us’ and there will be unpleasantness. What happens when decisions are made together and people go together? This time, responsibility is taken together, and the child also learns responsibility.”
Accountability protects people
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that democratic values are the most important values discovered by humanity in the 21st century, and said, “The fourth value in democracy is accountability. That is why opposition is sacred in democracies. There will be opposition, it will criticize. The other side will also be able to limit its power. Criticizability is very important here to be able to limit power, to be able to limit authority, and accountability is important. What truly protects a person is not their patriotism, not their religiosity, but their accountability.”
There must be a sense of accountability
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the meaning of the word 'religion' in the Holy Quran is accountability, and said, “People must have a sense of accountability within themselves. This is something often emphasized in Abrahamic religions. A person who loses the sense of accountability can become a crime machine. These family values are also suitable for our culture and family structure. Therefore, we can foster this.”
“Children we raise with our national values become children of our own values, not children of popular culture,” said Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, adding, “Let's look at July 15 from this perspective. Democracy is very meaningful for these reasons. Because here, national sovereignty prevails. What is the opposite of democracy? Militarism. It is the dominance of military intellect.”
July 15, an Atlanticist coup attempt
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that Turkish history has always been a history of coups, saying, “In 1950, there was popular sovereignty. In 1960, there was a coup. There was March 12, September 12, April 27, and then July 15. July 15 is not independent of the chain of coups. This is an Atlanticist coup attempt, not just America. That is, not just FETÖ, FETÖ is just a pawn. This is a completely utilized team. Due to the authoritarian pressures of February 28, a group established itself in the General Staff. For example, the same group could not establish itself in MIT.”
Self-criticism should also be made
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that self-criticism should also be made when discussing July 15, saying, “Why could they not establish themselves in MIT, why not in the police? We need to look at why they established themselves in the General Staff. The public's reaction and psychology are very important here.” Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that democratic values should be seen as the Kanun-i Esasi of this century, and said, “We need to see democratic values as constitutional law so that everyone should make their plans accordingly. The coup-plotting mentality that said ‘I will break democracy if necessary’ suffered a defeat here.”
President Erdoğan's exemplary leadership
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the treacherous coup attempt of July 15 was successfully prevented under the leadership of President Erdoğan, and said, “Our President's leadership is a tremendous leadership. This was a leadership that went down in history. I addressed this in my book 'Coup Psychology', which I wrote in 2017. That leadership there, even 50 years later when this topic is discussed for Turkey, put a kind of end to the history of coups.”
Always be vigilant against coup attempts
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that it is necessary to always be prepared against coup attempts, and said:
“Coups never end and a full stop is not put. We are putting not a full stop, but a comma here. A semicolon. It is necessary to be constantly vigilant. Democracy education is needed in the armed forces. Previously, democracy was not taught as a course in military academies. It has just now started to be taught. Every military academy graduate saw themselves as a candidate for chief of general staff, they were raised that way. Democratic values have been neglected in our education system. Military education, in particular, progressed somewhat independently of national education.”
Global powers must now know their place
All of these, currently, slowly again with the will of the society, with the leadership of the President, a serious awareness has now formed here and it has become a lesson to the whole world. Just as the Turkish War of Independence became a tremendous moral and example for remaining independent against global powers all over the world. Similarly, on July 15, global powers must now know their place. It is important for the nation to be able to make its own free decisions to find the right and best for itself. Democracy is not a new system. Democracy only becomes a good system in the hands of just people. If the goal of democracy is justice, then the method is democracy. If the goal is not justice, democracy turns into a tool. Hitler, for example, did that. He used democracy to lead his country to fascism. Therefore, it is necessary to accept that the will of the people is the final decision-maker in democracy. Anyone who does not accept this truth will be thrown into the dustbin of history.”
Democracy as a system of values should be explained to children
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also stated that it is important for families to explain the importance of democracy to their children on this important day, and said, “They should explain that democracy is a system of values and that it is also valid in the family. Democracy starts in the family, and democracy is the order of this era.”