Despite its proximity to the birthplace of Bolshevism, Turkey has remained a deeply conservative society, dominated by a seemingly change-proof peasantry. Thus it came as something of an eye-opener last month when the country's growing leftist organizations were able to assemble a throng of 70,000 in Istanbul to protest a labor bill that they felt would benefit right-wing workers. The demonstration quickly turned into a bloody riot. Tanks rumbled out and gunfire spluttered. The Golden Horn bridge was closed and ferry service across the Bosporus, linking the European and Asian halves of the city, was stopped to contain...
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