--- title: #10 Gray Area slug: 10-gray-area-2c74f url: /detay/10-gray-area-2c74f type: blog language: English entity: primary: #10 Gray Area type: blog categories: - name: Politics And International Relations slug: siyaset-ve-uluslararasi-iliskiler url: /kategori/siyaset-ve-uluslararasi-iliskiler tags: - influenza area author: KÜME Vakfı created_at: 2026-07-23T14:24:38.800347+03:00 updated_at: 2026-07-23T14:24:38.800357+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/01/13/DRXdzxQ44UXsOwOMNuQFgMWNGVRpSf0Z.jpeg --- # #10 Gray Area ## Article Content ### **New Experiments in the Laboratory of Politics** In recent days, following elections in the Czech Republic and Japan where leaders emerged with characteristics similar to those of [Donald Trump](/en/detay/donald-trumpin-ikinci-baskanlik-donemi/llms.txt), two further significant elections have taken place that may counter this trend. In [New York](/en/detay/new-york-belediye-baskanligi-secimleri-2025-ee41e/llms.txt), the Democratic Party’s candidate [Zohran Mamdani](/en/detay/zohran-kwame-mamdani-2e04c/llms.txt) won, while in [Holland](/en/detay/hollanda-2/llms.txt), the social liberal D66 Party emerged victorious from the ballot. These two developments represent contrasting responses to the crisis of representation in global politics. As classical ideologies lose their influence, the standardized rhetoric of established parties has long failed to convince voters. This vacuum of representation has been filled by leaders such as Trump, who rise to prominence with sharp rhetoric, while liberals and left-wing parties have struggled to oppose this surge without direct engagement with the public. However, the recent elections in New York and Holland have somewhat shifted this picture. The emergence of “new generation” leaders who effectively use social media and directly address economic hardships may herald a new era capable of disrupting the current balance. These leaders are challenging traditional political molds by forging more direct connections with voters and appearing capable of constructing an alternative form of representation. In New York, Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist of Indian origin and a Shia Muslim born in Uganda, won the mayoral election. Mamdani defeated Republican candidate [Curtis Sliwa](/en/detay/curtis-sliwa-10cd9/llms.txt) and former governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, becoming New York’s youngest mayor since 1892. Mamdani, who received around 50 percent of the vote, focused his campaign intensely on the housing crisis and income inequality, promising concrete measures such as rent freezes and free public transit. His labeling as a “communist” by Donald Trump and threats to cut federal funding highlight this as the latest example of the persistent polarization in American politics. In Holland, the social liberal D66 Party became the leading party in the elections. Rob Jetten, the 37-year-old leader of D66, who outperformed Geert Wilders, the front-runner known for his anti-Islam stance, is drawing significant attention. Jetten, who will become Holland’s youngest prime minister in history, stands out for his pro-[Europe](/en/detay/avrupa-2/llms.txt) policies, reformist rhetoric on housing and climate, and especially his communication style targeting young voters. In his campaign, Jetten placed special emphasis on the housing crisis, aiming to build 100,000 new homes annually, invest in migrant integration programs, and strengthen cooperation with the European Union. In communication, he adopted a method distinct from traditional politics, actively producing content on TikTok and Instagram, using short videos and simple language to reach young voters directly. Although Zohran Mamdani and Rob Jetten come from different ideological traditions, both are responding to the same crisis of representation through similar methods. It can be said that both have bridged the gap between traditional politics and the digital age. In a period when political movements positioned against the so-called “[populist right](/en/detay/populizm/llms.txt)” struggle to connect with the public, they have succeeded in reaching young voters through TikTok videos by emphasizing humor, relevance, and directness. Today, voters across the world are seeking not ideological allegiance but a sense of connection and representation. People are turning to politicians who genuinely listen to them and address the everyday problems of their lives. Until now, this trend has largely been captured by Trump and similar leaders, while liberal and left-wing groups have often been accused of remaining outside this current, distracted by artificial agendas disconnected from the public’s real concerns. Zohran Mamdani and Rob Jetten appear, for now, to have successfully reconnected their political orientations with the public in opposition to the rising “populist current.” These two leaders are attempting to understand voters and establish direct contact with them, in contrast to a political mindset that dismisses voters and ignores their genuine grievances. In this context, our current era functions as a laboratory where new forms of representation and influence are being tested as classical ideological boundaries weaken. ### **Ukraine War in Its Fourth Winter** [Ukraine](/en/detay/ic-savas-2/llms.txt), as it enters the [fourth winter of war](/en/detay/fourth-anniversary-of-the-russia-ukraine-war-decaf/llms.txt), has seen the focus of conflict increasingly shift toward energy infrastructure. Each attack targets not only military objectives but also power grids, gas pipelines, and production facilities. Cities are frequently plunged into darkness, and energy outages have become a routine feature of the [war](/en/detay/russia-ukraine-war-ec710/llms.txt). In modern warfare, the front line has transformed into a complex arena where energy networks, civilian infrastructure, and technological dependencies intersect. After all, power generation and distribution constitute the invisible dimension of state sovereignty. This transforms energy from an economic and strategic resource into a political weapon. [Russia](/en/detay/rusya-2/llms.txt) continues launching large-scale attacks across [Ukraine](/en/detay/ukrayna-021b1/llms.txt) using numerous missiles and drones, causing severe damage to [Ukraine](/en/detay/ukraine-e6348/llms.txt)’s energy infrastructure. Electricity lines, gas stations, and production facilities have been targeted, resulting in prolonged outages in some regions and nationwide daily power cuts of eight hours. Following recent attacks on energy facilities in Donetsk, Sumy, and Chernihiv, authorities announced that nationwide outages would increase. This scenario demonstrates that the war has also become a matter of social security. Attacks on energy infrastructure are among the most concrete examples of “hybrid threats” in modern security thinking. While classical warfare prioritizes the destruction of military targets, today’s attacks on civilian infrastructure aim to break a country’s economic and social resilience. Energy has become both a target and a tool in this new security equation. The failure of power lines, the inability of hospitals to operate, or the collapse of heating systems clearly reveal how the war affects millions of people far from the front lines. The collapse of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is also deeply disrupting daily life. Power outages have become a measure of societal resilience, [state capacity](/en/detay/devletcilik-2/llms.txt), and individual endurance. Households are surviving with generators or shared energy systems. In many cities, citizens gather at local solidarity hubs to access heating, charging, and internet services. Waging war through energy requires a rethinking of the concept of sovereignty. A nation’s ability to defend its borders is now also measured by the continuity of its electricity and data networks. As seen in Ukraine, energy production and distribution have become existential issues. When a city is plunged into darkness due to a power cut, it signifies the weakening of that society’s public sphere and communication networks. From this perspective, energy infrastructure represents the invisible backbone of modern sovereignty. Cables, transformers, and production facilities are the arteries that sustain state continuity, public morale, and social order. Therefore, energy wars go beyond classical “military conflict.” Today, war is also fought over a society’s capacity to sustain its vital flows. In conclusion, modern [wars](/en/detay/savas-3/llms.txt) are waged behind the front lines, in data cables and power plants. Energy has become both the target of war and a symbol of societal resilience. The outages in Ukraine reflect the complex relationship between state, society, and technology. The future of the war will depend directly on how long societies can remain standing on this invisible front. ### **The (Economic) Cost of the Syrian War** [The World Bank](/en/detay/siyasal-guven/llms.txt) estimates that at least $216 billion is needed for Syria’s post-war reconstruction. This enormous sum reveals not only the economic consequences of years of conflict but also the profound social, humanitarian, and institutional collapse the country has endured. In a situation of such massive destruction, “reconstruction” is itself a process of redefining a nation’s existence. The World Bank’s report broadly outlines the economic dimensions of reconstruction while also revealing its multilayered nature. The war has destroyed not only roads, hospitals, and buildings but also displaced populations, social ties, and production chains. Therefore, reconstruction is not merely a technical engineering challenge but a complex process intertwining [economic recovery](/en/detay/ekonomi-politik-2/llms.txt), institutional capacity-building, and social healing. Rebuilding infrastructure requires restoring the country’s economic lifelines, starting with energy, water, and transportation sectors. Restoring power plants and transmission lines is a prerequisite for restarting production. Similarly, repairing health and [education](/en/detay/egitim-2/llms.txt) facilities is critical to reestablishing access to basic services. However, the greatest challenge in this process is resource scarcity and the need for long-term planning. The World Bank’s estimated cost of $216 billion is dozens of times greater than Syria’s annual economic output. Therefore, international financial support and long-term development programs are indispensable for the sustainability of this process. To grasp the scale of destruction, one need only examine the humanitarian picture. According to a United Nations survey conducted after the war, approximately 90 percent of Syria’s population lives in food insecurity, and more than half of its health and education facilities are nonfunctional. Hundreds of thousands of children cannot return to school, and in many cities, basic services are still delivered through temporary solutions. This demonstrates that reconstruction is not merely about concrete and steel but also about rebuilding human capital. In this context, the concept of “reconstruction” must be addressed on two levels. First, material reconstruction: restoring cities, roads, industrial zones, and public services. Second, social reconstruction: establishing a new social equilibrium in areas such as education, healthcare, employment, and the return of displaced populations. These two processes are closely interlinked, as neither can achieve lasting success without the other. Syria’s reconstruction, in this sense, requires more than economic measures—it demands political solutions. While the $216 billion cost represents the price of physically rebuilding Syria, the cost of social and humanitarian recovery far exceeds it. Given the scale of destruction, it is clear that the reconstruction period will be a patient, long-term endeavor.