On a mundane, domestic level, this daisy-chain of shopping carts integrates an answer to a reliable aspect of human nature: blind self interest. It does so by invoking our compulsion to possess.
The coin will release the chain, allowing the use of the cart- but traps the coin, which is returned only when the chain is replaced. Simple, elegant -and works; despite the nominal value of the coin (one lira), even those of moderate wealth are reticent to abandon ownership.
We are able to easily integrate alien objects into our image of self -our ego; furthermore, it is done with great flexibility: a shopping cart, money, a seat on a bus- all transient possessions, adopted and emancipated in a moment. We do this effortlessly, reflexively: a learned trait, natural to our culture and important to our base ability to function there in. Where a strong sense of community (the extension of the vision of self on to others) is present, ego-integrated objects may also be community shared without perceived abandonment.
Responsibility -the ego identification with liability- is not a base-level human trait: it is learned. If it is not learned, social discord will threaten the ordered function of community. As with many pro-community personal characteristics, responsible behavior may be learned free of social consciousness or appreciation of value -as with the shopping cart. By the learning mechanic of repetition we integrate behavior, not only on a personal level, but as a society. When the behavior becomes socially reflexive, we call it morality. In this way, as a soccioty, we may integrate behaviors free of a need for iterspection or assessment of personal or communal value. When objectified, we may then ego-integrate the behavior into our image of self -as morality, affection, pride, etcetera.
With the shopping cart, the behavior modification is positive, progressive. But what if you want immediate behavior change: say, you were... I don't know... trying to transform your entire society from a feudal system to a modern republic in a single generation? You might need to use force and the threat of force -in addition to reward- to shift the perception of self-interest in adopting new behaviors. It would be naive to think that this could be done in an enduring way without the integration that comes with repetition; until such a time, inducements to comply are necessary.
Turkey is still in this in-between-place. In many cases, only positive reinforcement is now necessary; such as in Turkey's bid to join the European Union, the coin for this shopping cart is nothing less than social change. In the past, Turkey's military hegemony had been looked to for such inducements; however, now, they seem unwilling to go beyond the inception of the Kemalist ideal to actual fruition of vision -when the roll of the military would shift from that of social controller, to social utility. The promise offered by membership in the European Union has introduced an alternative paradigm.
It may be that one day such changes will come in Turkey as a result of introspection, and true value will be attributed to things such as freedom of expression (in the form of speech or religion) or environmental stewardship. We in the west have ignored the voices of introspection long enough that the planet now offers it's own inducements for change; weather we will be able to free ourselves of the despot of a market ideology lacking environmental feed-back, without the aid of outside influence, is another question entirely. Still, one must not put too much hope in strange lights sighted in the Texas night.
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