Encounters with the Third Kind

Demonstrations that commenced at the Gezi Promenade of Taksim Square at the end of May over plans to build a shopping mall are presenting a challenge to the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose appearance of invincibility has been considerably tarnished. Interviews with those participating at the demonstrations in Istanbul and sympathy rallies in other cities bring out two major complaints: the failure of government to consult the citizens in projects that affect their daily lives, and the implementation of a number of steps that are judged to intrude into the private lives of citizens.