I wrote this article based on the book “The Decline of Nations,” which is an excellent result of detailed research. Thomas Jefferson considered the spokesperson for democracy, states that the price of freedom is to be vigilant constantly, and of course, it is the people themselves who need to be vigilant. Freedom in a society comes from the bottom up, meaning it originates from the people.

During the ongoing economic crisis worldwide, some countries experience the crisis deeply, while others only observe it as a headline in the news. This might be due to differences in education levels, foreign investment and capital, or technological advancements, but these explanations alone are not sufficient. Some countries, despite technological progress, still have a large portion of their population living in poverty, making it an exception to the general rule. Moreover, relying solely on ancestral wealth or natural resources falls short as an explanation, as even in oil-rich Arab countries, once their oil reserves are depleted, there won’t be a source strong enough to maintain or boost their employment.

Regarding the distinction between wealthy and poor nations, the common saying “Geography is Destiny” is often used, but the matter is not as simple as that. When we look at the general issues in Turkey today, we can see that many of these problems were also experienced during the Ottoman Empire (minority issues, economic problems, distancing from the Western world, rapprochement with Arab relations and the socio-economic problems it brought). The reason for this is the postponement of solving these problems, which remained unresolved after the establishment of the Republic, and some of them even grew or left remnants still being discussed today (such as the Mosul issue, Misak-ı Milli, minorities, population exchange, etc.). I wanted to address this topic not only in the context of Turkey but also on a global scale. I would like to clarify that my writing is open to criticism, and I apologize in advance for any mistakes or omissions.

When we examine the United Kingdom, known as the “Empire on which the sun never sets,” we see that it was a wealthy and powerful state 150 years ago, as mentioned in “The Decline of Nations.” The UK had a system where the state, as well as the people, were wealthy and powerful. This system was based on democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. However, in the face of people’s uprisings or resistance, the politicians in the UK chose to bend rather than break. The state took new steps in line with the people’s demands and pursued a balanced political approach. The UK had only one successful military coup in its history, which was the Pride’s Purge in 1648. Afterwards, the applied policy of maintaining a balance contributed to increased welfare and reduced tension. Unlike non-inclusive institutions, this pluralistic political system in the UK allowed power to be distributed more widely and created a balanced political environment. As a result, power and wealth in today’s UK are not concentrated in the hands of a specific group or family, but rather, the welfare of the people has increased, and the country has become an example of a rule of law by supporting freedom of expression.

However, inclusive and pluralistic institutions did not arise merely because the state or an elite group generously granted rights to the people. History shows us that in many European countries, including the UK, the people claimed these rights through their resistance. The same is true for the United States. The uprising initiated by groups forced to work under coercion in the US, which colonial powers failed to suppress, led to the people taking matters into their own hands and laying the foundations for the country we see today. Of course, this struggle required many sacrifices and resistance. We can cite The Glorious Revolution and the English Civil War as examples of this in the case of the UK.

As Thomas Jefferson, the advocate of democracy, suggests, freedom’s cost is to be vigilant, and in this case, it is the people themselves who need to be vigilant. Freedom originates from the people, and they are as free as they can raise their voices and claim their rights. At the same time, they must know that their rights will be protected. Civil societies play a role in this process, although they are not sufficient on their own. For a rule of law to be established and for rights to be effectively protected, a strong civil society structure is essential. This inclusive civil society structure will lead to the formation of pluralistic institutions in politics. As these inclusive institutions develop, power will be distributed more widely, leading to a balanced political environment. In this way, opportunities will not be concentrated in the hands of exploitative powers and institutions, and instead, society’s welfare will increase.

Another crucial aspect is the role of law and its application. Laws and regulations vary everywhere; what may be forbidden or encouraged in the Ottoman Empire may be different in Britain. The law evolves with society, and a rule of law refers to a broader state, not just a state that applies the law. Rights form the foundation of this.

Another fundamental necessity to address during this process is freedom of expression. The correct and effective use of freedom of expression will yield the results we desire. Some philosophers consider freedom of expression as negative liberty because it is not sufficient on its own. Although everyone having the freedom of expression might seem positive, a significant part of the population can still live under the dominance of another group in the same society. All these dynamics require delicate handling and must be used correctly. Achieving this dominance involves the mobilization of society and the widespread participation of civil society, which will lay the groundwork for the formation of fundamental rights.

Is Being a Right Holder Enough?
No, as history shows, even in regions under colonization, slaves had their rights, but these rights were conditional and determined by their social roles. If they failed to fulfil their obligations, they would lose those rights. They couldn’t refuse their roles and choose a different path; they could only work for the area assigned to them. For instance, education was forbidden in European colonies; therefore, a slave could only earn the right to eat and survive after completing their assigned tasks, but they did not have the freedom of expression, meaning they couldn’t choose to have an education. Establishing and ensuring these rights, freedom of expression, and balanced politics means having inclusive and modernized political institutions.

Why Is This So Important?
It is vital for innovation, creativity, and the emergence of new ideas. The broader the foundation of civil society and the stronger the rights, the more robust and inclusive the political institutions become. This, in turn, facilitates innovation and creativity. Conversely, with a different policy, the economy will only grow moderately because institutions will be exclusionary, hindering progress. To move forward, we need to take faster steps toward these general rights.