Technology, Imperialism, and Turkey

The concept of imperialism brings Lenin to mind. According to Lenin, imperialism is a policy of capital export directed toward other countries during the maturation phase of capitalism, specifically in its industrialization and financialization stages. While this is the generally accepted view in theory, some researchers argue that John Hobson, Bill Warren, and many others had already put forward the view of imperialism as capital export combined with monopolization and financialization before or around the same time as Lenin. My purpose here is not to engage in an academic debate on the theory of imperialism held by Lenin and other researchers, but rather to discuss with our valued readers how imperialism should be perceived today and where Turkey stands in this context.

A few days ago, I witnessed some intriguing and unsettling statements by Dr. Esen Ercan Alp on a TV program. I watched what Dr. E. Ercan Alp, who works as a researcher at the University of Chicago in the US and apparently visits Turkey at certain intervals to share his knowledge with his colleagues and public circles in the country, had to say with both interest and fear. Let me first speak of the fear. Nature is such a massive phenomenon that as science advances and deepens detailed analysis in every field, one both feels fear and realizes how helpless one is in the face of this magnificent fabric, and feels unsettled. The famous scientist Albert Einstein's thought in this context is also magnificent. To paraphrase, Einstein, while stating that nature is magnificent, also says that we have a magnificent brain structure that allows us to delve into the depths of this magnificent structure.

In past periods, when the view of imperialism was being developed, one could not speak of the existence of a proton or neutron moving at a speed of one-millionth of a second. Thanks to research conducted with today's advanced tools and techniques, advanced technology and quantum technology have entered almost every field, from the health and pharmaceutical industry to communication, agriculture, industry, and most importantly, the defense industry. Firms and countries that possess this technology become dominant in establishing hegemony over other countries. A very important aspect of building an imperialist network through technology is that the relationship, which is essentially exploitative, is perceived as a transaction conducted in an economic nature, or even as a kind of division of labor or transaction that provides benefits to the country. As such, turning to domestic industry in almost every field, from drug production to communication, energy production, and usage, goes beyond good intentions or patriotism, because it is not possible to compete with firms or countries that use these technologies without entering into nanotechnology or quantum technology.

Dr. Esen Ercan Alp also provided information about the science-economy and even bureaucracy infrastructure of the aforementioned advanced technology production. Dr. Alp clearly demonstrated that extraordinary financial resources and long periods, such as decades, are needed to enter this advanced technology field. Dr. Alp emphasized education and gave very important messages on this subject as well. What Dr. Alp said about the field of education, which has become the most heated topic of discussion today, serves as important advice for those who can understand.

To summarize what was said in the field of education in a short time, Dr. Alp emphasized that education should not be scholastic, rote-based, and devoid of questioning, and stressed that children from all income and social backgrounds should have the chance for equal conditions and quality education. Giving examples of policies implemented in China on this subject, Dr. Alp emphasized that a system is applied in China where even children from the lowest-income families can receive education at the same high level as all other children. Thus, explaining that intelligent children with high potential are not wasted in the gears of an inadequate education system, Dr. Alp was emphasizing the importance of this example for our country, which has a population not even reaching one hundred thousand, while describing it for China, which has a population of more than one billion. In our country, the children of one or two poor regions who occasionally show the ability to achieve high-level success in university entrance exams are clear evidence that the number of successful young people could be much higher under the equal quality education conditions that should exist. However, it can only be a dream to think that much efficiency can be obtained from the broad masses in our country who were seen to lack even internet access during the pandemic period and who can only reach school through the busing system.

Dr. Esen Ercan Alp emphasized secularism in education, revealing the importance of raising individuals who are free from bigotry, capable of free thinking, and who aim to question by looking at the information they obtain with suspicion. How sad it is that the descendants of a generation that received the printing press from the West much later due to a reactionary mentality and destroyed the observatory with cannons, while having turned toward the desire for enlightenment in one period and taking positive steps, today do not refrain from filling the heads of little children with empty and frightening superstitions in a system dominated by undeveloped minds. Just as politicians can run wild by finding the field empty with reactionary education, imperialists who benefit from these conditions can also rob the country with covert policies.

As technology is developed in central countries, the hegemony of central countries over peripheral countries like Turkey will intensify. This relationship of hegemony will lead to an increase in our imports of technology-intensive products and a decrease in our exports, thereby deepening the already chronic current account deficit and creating a continuous and structural resource leakage out of the country.

While this is the situation, instead of chasing votes by exploiting the sincere religious and worship feelings of the people, a long-term, secular, and high-quality education mobilization equal for all young people should be initiated to ensure the country's independence. In addition to this, high-technology centers should be established within the public sector, and care should be taken to train young people who will build the future in every field, especially basic sciences, without sparing anything.

Countries cannot develop through wastefulness initiated with talk of state pomp or that "there is no saving on prestige"; a country only develops with a free, secular, and questioning education system.