Democratic Transition in Turkey

'West' or 'East'? 'Modern' or 'Traditional'? 'Global' or 'Local'? 'Secular' or 'Islamic'? 'Turkish' or 'Other'? These seemingly polar opposites have all-too-often been lazily used when examining the nature of the modern Turkish state and its society. Here, Hasan Turunc seeks to look at the nuance which lies in between these opposites, analysing the explosion of civil society institutions under the aegis and protection of the EU Copenhagen Political Criteria (which holds out eventual EU accession as the ultimate incentive in the negotiations). He thereby explores how the role of the army in Turkish society has been altered with the commencement of the EU accession process, as the balance is shifted more towards civilian institutions and away from the military. The EU talks also have ramifications for issues such as the compatibility of Islam and secularism and the relationship between Turks and Kurds within the Turkish state. A fresh look at the current issues within Turkey, this book offers a vital and nuanced analysis for those researching modern Turkey and its political issues.