Navigating Politics and Nationalism in Turkey's Elections.
Burhan Sönmez, a Kurdish Turkish writer and president of PEN International, discusses the ongoing struggle between Turkish power and Turkish art, and the role of literature in authoritarian societies. He reflects on the oppression and resistance of writers, journalists, academics, and intellectuals in Turkey over the last 150-170 years, and the rise of nationalism and racism against immigrants in the country. Despite the danger of going to prison or being unemployed, Sönmez sees young people writing fearlessly about Kurdish issues, women's issues, LGBT issues, and political crimes in Turkey. He remains optimistic about the future of Turkey and the power of literature to unite the past and the future.