"Turkish Democracy at the Crossroads
Coup techniques by MÜMTAZ’ER TÜRKÖNE
Italian writer Curzio Malaparte's book titled "Tecnica del Colpo di Stato" (Coup d'État, the Technique of Revolution), originally published in 1931, was translated into Turkish in 1963.
Turkish Weekly Comment - Notes on the Recent Developments of Turkish Economy
Turkey a true ally of the US, New York mayor says
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he has always believed that Turkey is a true ally of the United States. Speaking at the American-TurkishYusuf Kanlı: AKP needs a roadmap!
In the psychology of a guilty man the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is in a rather alarming swing mode. One day, senior executives of the party talk about a rather constructive roadmap and signal a willingness on the part of the ruling party to take some steps back and help resolve the explosive situation the country landed in with the closure case against it, the next day – and often the same day – the prime minister or some other executive of the ruling party comes up with a question “What step back? What have we done that we are expected to take a step back? We will defend ourselves, we will not surrender.” One day the prime minister and his men are all stressing that they...Does the Islamic world view the closure case differently than the West?
The segments of society that see no drawbacks in Turkey's being led toward chaos through anti-democratic ways are seriously disturbed by Western calls for democracy in regards to the closure case brought against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).Turkey on the way to self-destruction
Mehmet Ali BirandWe have fallen well behind Özal’s legacy
We remember Turkey's eighth president, Turgut Özal, with respect and gratitude on this, the 15th anniversary of his death, and continue to seek his leadership and fulfill his vision.Crisis of representation
Unlike the views held by positivist elites, social life is not homogenous and monolithic. Social differences are as natural as the differences in the world of creatures, and they may even be considered projections of these.An outside look at coups
At a point where the democratic process went out of control because of closure cases against two political parties, attention has been turned to messages from the outside world.If Özal were alive...
We lost him 15 years ago. He was a man who served well not only Turkey, but the people of Turkey. If he were alive today, he would be able to continue his service.The Plots Proliferate: Is Ergenekon a Fiction of the CIA?
A prosecutor is investigating links between an organized crime group known as Atabeyler, whose plans to assassinate Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were uncovered two years ago, and Ergenekon, a shadowy group suspected of trying to overthrow the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), thereby bringing down the government.
Turkish Democracy at the Crossroads
Şaban Kardaş, University of Utah
As several observers of Turkish politics concur, since the beginning of the year we have been witnessing an undeclared bureaucratic -- i.e., judicial -- coup in the making. Far from upholding the rule of law, the closure case against the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is widely viewed as part and parcel of a political and ideological position that hardly stands any chance of gaining the public's approval through legitimate democratic channels. It is, in that sense, an attempt for the imposition of a particular ideology and political project on the Turkish society through extra-political channels, not unlike previous military interventions. The growing assertiveness of the judiciary emerges as yet another challenge to the consolidation of democracy, similar to the negative effects of military coups on democratization.
As several observers of Turkish politics concur, since the beginning of the year we have been witnessing an undeclared bureaucratic -- i.e., judicial -- coup in the making. Far from upholding the rule of law, the closure case against the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is widely viewed as part and parcel of a political and ideological position that hardly stands any chance of gaining the public's approval through legitimate democratic channels. It is, in that sense, an attempt for the imposition of a particular ideology and political project on the Turkish society through extra-political channels, not unlike previous military interventions. The growing assertiveness of the judiciary emerges as yet another challenge to the consolidation of democracy, similar to the negative effects of military coups on democratization.
