The Gezi Park Protests of 2013
The Gezi Park Protests of 2013

An Observer’s View of a Political Crisis

Summary/Abstract: The protests that spread all over Turkey starting from Gezi Park, Istanbul in the month of June 2013 have become an important turning-point in the political history of the country. The visible reason initiating the situation was the cutting of trees on one side of Gezi Park due to construction works on the roads. However, due to use of excessive force by the police against the protestors, this minor protest of a small group evolved into resistance against the government, formed by people of all political, ethnical and professional groups and religious affiliations. Various demonstrations in numerous countries around the globe were organized to show support for and solidarity with the Gezi protestors. The slogans “Resist Gezi!” and “Taksim everywhere, Resistance everywhere” were heard all around the world. The concept of resistance evolved into a new identity with the 2013 June Resistance and a new culture of resistance was formed in Turkey. This article aims to review the properties of the resistance culture, which was born after the Gezi Protests.

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