Overview

Seeking EU membership, Turkey has been trying to keep its politics on the up and up for quite a few years now.  As things start to smooth out on Cyprus and human rights abuses against the Kurds seem less common, it seemed that Turkey had achieved a level of stability that would hurry it ascension to the EU.  However, that momentum seems to be quashed as the high court is considering outlawing the AK party – the current ruling party of the nation.  Turkey has multiple provisions that are intended to ensure that the government remains secular, and has banned parties with Islamist leanings before;, however, this would represent the first time that the president, PM and majority of parliament would all be a part of the banned party.  As such, the potential ruling of the court will not only immediately threaten the stability of Turkey, but also may hamper the long-term ambitions of the nation’s leaders.


Major Terms and Figures

AK Party:  Full name Justice and Development Party. Is currently the ruling party of Turkey after winning 46.6% percent of parliamentary votes in July 2007 elections.  It touts itself as a center-right conservative party, dedicated to a pro-western, liberal economic ideology.  The party gained much of its support by polling strong in Kurdish and Secular left areas, as well as will the center right.  However, because the party is traditionally rooted in opposition the removal of Islamic elements from Turkish society, many question its current claims of secularism.  As such, a petition was filed to the constitutional court of Turkey to ban the party from politics for five years under the following accusations:

  1. The Political Islam represented by the AK party claims to change state rules; members of the party have acts at the area between the “Person” and “the God,” which is banned to politicians by constitution.
    1. AK party has arrangements based on sharia. (a) Party leader Erdogan claimed in Spain in January 2008 saying “Even if (headscarf) is a political symbol, constitution and courts do not have right to ban”.
    2. AK party has changed articles 10 and 42 of the Constitution to change the essence of the principle of secularism.
  2. The AK party used the executive powers based on “Public arrangements with religious rules,” this form of decision making is banned by the constitution.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Prime minister of Turkey since 2003.  Has been long involved in controversial political parties.  Was a follower of Necmettin Erbakan, a leader who has had multiple parties banned for their anti-secular activities, including the National Salvation party – which was forcibly removed from government by a military coup in 1980.  Was arrested in 1998, while mayor of Istanbul, for his Islamic sympathies.  Built the AK party out of the remains of other disbanded political parties.

Abdullah Gul: President of Turkey. Picked by Erdogan to be candidate of the AK party in the 2007 elections.  Has historical ties with banned Islamism party The Welfare Party – of which Erdogan was a prominent member.  Seen as a front for Erdogan, since Gul is seen as moderate enough to win the presidency.  Gul’s private life has drawn much criticism, especially since his wife wears a traditional headscarf – something that draws the ire of secularists in the government.

The Army:  Has long seen itself as the protector of secularism in Turkey.  As such it has intervened in politics with coups in 1960, 71 and 80, and is believed to be the primary force that led to the removal of Islamic-oriented Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan in 1997. Has threatened to take action against the AK if the courts don’t ban the party, arguing their duty is to protect Turkey’s secularist traditions above all else.

Courts/Constitution:  The Turkish constitution is grounded in the ideology of “Kemalism,” which is named after the Turkish nationalist leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.  Seeks to promote six main ideals: Republicanism, populism, secularism, revolutionism, nationalism and etatism.  It is the secularist elements of the constitution that justify the court hearing this case to ban the AK, and that has justified past military interventions.

PKK or Kurdistan Workers Party:   Leftist Kurdish rights organization that seeks Kurdish protections and autonomy in Turkey, and has been dubbed a terrorist organization by the Majority of western nations.  While the PKK has declared a ceasefire, the AK refuses to recognize this.  PKK members are thought to have taken refuge in Kurdish Iraq, leading to Turkish military incursions into the region earlier this year.  Conflict over the aggressive stance that the Turkish government has taken towards the Kurds and the PKK’s efforts to create peace are one of the major criticisms standing in the way of Turkish ascension into the EU.

Cyprus: Turkish support of the division of Cyprus is another EU criticism against the nation, especially since the Turkish majority was moved to the Island in tactics expressly prohibited by the Geneva conventions.  Turkey has long supported the division of the island, currently having 35,000 troops stationed in the northern Turkish half.  However, this four decade division is seeing some progress, as talks have begun between the two halves, and Turkish officials have been meeting with the EU to discuss their role in the conflict.

Major Issues

EU Expansion:  The most notable implication of this whole movement is that regardless of the outcome.  The fact that the courts would even considering banning the democratically elected majority does not bode well for Turkey’s EU ambitions.  The EU has already condemned the courts actions as anti-democratic. If the court rules against the AK party, the ascension talks will stall out, which is especially troubling for the nation considering the government has really just re-initiated the talks. Even if the court allows the party to stay in power, it will give Tturkey’s traditional opponents – such as Germany – the ability to claim that the nation doesn’t believe in free expression or democracy.

Domestic Stability: This legal decision also has a vast potential to destabilize the nation.  Many Turks see the lawsuit as politically motivated, rather than in the interest of the nation.  The removal of the AK would create nationwide resentment against whatever party assumed control of Turkey, as the AK has a centrist coalition that spans across geography and ethnicities.  The law suit has also led to calls for constitutional reform, specifically to prevent military or judicial actions from interfering with democratically elected governments.

Economic Impacts:  This division has also taken its toll on the Turkish economy.  Specifically the uncertainty of the political future of the nation has lowered foreign investment in the nation and has undermined the stability of the Turkish Lira.  This economic stagnation is especially surprising since Erdogan’s rule has defined by an economic liberalization that has allowed for a lot of growth.  As such, a quick resolution is needed for the economic stability of the nation – something that is really only possible if the court finds in favor of the AK

Sample Questions

Will the Turkish courts Ban the AK Party?
What impact will the questionable legality of the AK party have on Turkey’s EU ambitions?
Should the Turkish Army take action to ensure the secularity of Turkey?
Will Turkey allow Cyprus to reunify?
What can the  AK party do to re-stimulate the Turkish Economy