Democratization and the Politics of Constitution-Making in Turkey

Ergun Özbudun and Ömer F. Genckaya (Bilkent University, Ankara)

Explores and illustrates how domestic and international factors shape the direction of democratization process with special reference to constitution making process in Turkey. Describes how all five Turkish constitutions were, by and large, the products of indigenous effort, although borrowing could be felt in certain limited areas. Argues that the constitutional reforms in the post-1983 period were the outco me of broad inter-party negotiations and agree ments as a response to the society’s demands for a more democratic and liberal political system. Finally, the constitutional revisions adopted since 1995 were strongly conditioned by Turkey’s hope of accession to the European Union. With these reforms, Turkey was successful in meeting the political criteria and started accession negotiations with the EU.

The authors also analyze the latest rounds of debate on the draft for an entirely new constitution prepared by the present governing moderate religious party, which is committed to joining the European Union.

Contents

Introduction Chapter 1 The History of Constitution-Making in Turkey Chapter 2 Initial Changes, 1987–1995 Chapter 3 Constitutional A mend ments under EU Conditionality 1998–2006 Chapter 4 Harmonization Packages and Other Legislative Reforms Chapter 5 EU Conditionality and Democratization Process in Turkey Chapter 6 The Constitutional Crisis of 2007–2008 and the Search for a New Constitution Conclusion Appendix A Appendix B

2009
156 pages
ISBN 978-963-9776-30-2 cloth $40.00 / € 31.95 / £27.00