2008_10_SRP_CornellKaraveli_Turkey
2008_10_SRP_CornellKaraveli_Turkey
2008_10_SRP_CornellKaraveli_Turkey
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Prospects for a ‘Torn’ <strong>Turkey</strong> 71<br />
secularism – will have continued to generate friction, and to furnish Turkish<br />
politics with a defining context.<br />
In its second term in power (2007-2011) the AKP government was severely<br />
tested by a global economic crisis, which threatened to reconfigure the<br />
dynamics and alignments that had once opened the gates of power for it. The<br />
flight of foreign capital in particular during the global crisis revealed the<br />
vulnerabilities of the Turkish economy, and made it difficult for the AKP to<br />
maintain the generous welfare policies which had contributed to its victory<br />
in the elections of 2007.<br />
Yet, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once again proved that he is an<br />
astute leader, capable of overcoming dire challenges. The AKP recovered, and<br />
won the elections held in 2011. The main opposition party, the secularist and<br />
nationalist Republican people’s party, CHP, had once again failed to evolve<br />
into a modern social democratic force, and hence remained more or less<br />
marginalized. Instead, a new centrist force emerged as the main opposition<br />
party, together with the far-right MHP. In 2014, <strong>Turkey</strong> held its first popular<br />
election for president; Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won with a large margin and<br />
succeeded Abdullah Gül, who became prime minister. Erdoğan was re-elected<br />
in 2019.<br />
The continued marginalization of the opposition made it difficult for the<br />
AKP to control its authoritarian impulse to have it all; a new political crisis<br />
erupted in 2011 when President Gül appointed Islamic-oriented judges to the<br />
Constitutional court. However, the new constitution that the AKP had<br />
tailored and put to referendum in 20<strong>10</strong> had already curtailed the powers of the<br />
court, which could no longer rule on the closure of political parties, except<br />
when they were involved in acts of violence. Yet, the Chief of Staff, General<br />
Işık Koşaner, reacted sharply to the appointments to the court, and issued a<br />
warning that the principles of Atatürk had to be respected. As had happened<br />
in 2007-<strong>2008</strong>, the military, fearful of scaring off foreign investments, and<br />
failing to receive a green light for a coup from Washington, had to content<br />
itself with issuing a verbal warning, after which it got back to business-asusual<br />
with the Islamic conservative government.<br />
The AKP managed to keep the Kurdish issue under control. Islamic loyalty<br />
proved more powerful than the nationalist temptation. Yet, the Kurdish PKK