Sèvres Syndrome

Turkey has managed to consistently choose the wrong side of history over the last 200 years. This meant that the country supported the Germans in both the First and Second World Wars and therefore had to bear the consequences of the loss of the Axis. Twice.

Because both world wars were ultimately about territorial gain, the losing side was forced to make territorial concessions. After the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles ordered Germany to pay reparations in 1919, but also to make territorial concessions.

The Treaty of Versailles for Germany had its counterpart in the Treaty of Sèvres for Turkey. The 1920 Treaty of Sèvres was a pact between the Allies and the Ottoman Empire, officially dismantling the Ottoman Empire and forcing it to relinquish claims to territories in North Africa and the Middle East. It also recognized independent and autonomous areas for Armenia, Kurdistan, and Greece.

Turkey's pride was hurt, and the humiliation and the subsequent implosion of the Turkish army eventually resulted in widespread guerilla warfare, led by Mustafa Kemal (1881-1938), later glorified as Atatürk. As the Turks are especially adept at genocide, huge numbers of Greeks, Jews and Armenians were massacred during the 'War of Independence' in 1920. Even in 1955, a pogrom against Greeks and Greek properties was endorsed by the Turkish government.

The Treaty of Sèvres was never implemented since it was left unratified by the Ottoman Parliament and due to Turkish victory during the subsequent 'War of Independence'.

Still, the Treaty of Sèvres still has a psychological effect on modern Turks. So much that it has become a syndrome: The Sèvres syndrome (Sevr sendromu)[1]. It refers to a popular belief in Turkey that dangerous internal and external enemies, especially the West, are 'conspiring to weaken and carve up the Turkish Republic'.

This belief is simply a conspiracy theory, because no one would, in their right mind, want to carve up Turkey (again). But it did result in a sort of siege mentality among many Turks. Which is stupid, but conspiracy theories are mostly in the realm of stupidity.

The Sèvres Syndrome is also the reason that Turkey is turning its back on Europe and forging closer ties with Russia and its former satellites. Which is also why Turkey is expected to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional organization helmed by China and Russia. The SCO has renowned members such as China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus.

[1] Guida: The Sèvres Syndrome and “Komplo” Theories in the Islamist and Secular Press in Turkish Studies - 2008