Enabling Environments for Civic Movements and the Dynamics of Democratic Transition - Turkey

Period of democratic transition: 1981-1983
Pro-democracy civic movement: not present

Turkey, a distinctly unique country with a contentious political history, has been struggling with the idea, institutionalization and practice of democracy since the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey has in fact had a number of "democratic transitions" – each occurring with a military intervention, under the guise of "safeguarding the democracy," and a rewriting of the Turkish Constitution. Unfortunately, following each instance of attempted democratization the Turkish state would find itself in the midst of the instability of an evolving democracy and slowly fall back into the pattern of corruption and autocracy.

Beginning in 1972, the year this study began, Turkey was in the midst of alternating periods of military and civilian rule coupled with periods of intense political violence.

Throughout the 1970's the Turkish government consisted of the Grand National Assembly, President Koruturk and the military. In response to sectarian violence in 1978, martial law was declared, again, in thirteen Turkish provinces. And, in April 1980, President Koruturk's seven-year term in office ended and the Grand National Assembly failed to appoint a successor.

In September 1980 the military – once again as the self-appointed saviors of the democracy – seized control of Turkey, appointed members to the Consultative Assembly for the purpose of drafting a new constitution, named members to the National Security Council and appointed Bulent Ulusu prime minister. The transition to civilian rule took three years and, although the coup met with no organized popular political resistance, there were a staggering number of political arrests made.

The new constitution was drafted and in effect by 1982. It provided for a strong presidency, outlawed politicians from the pre-1980 period and dissolved the pre-existing parliament and government. The state of Turkey's democracy and accordance with human rights protocol began to come under intense scrutiny by western countries during this period – and continues to this day. Following the coup in 1980 Turkey has had a tumultuous journey on the path to democracy. And, although it has not backslid into martial law, Turkey remains under close watch.