2012 Goes, Problems Remain!

As the country moved into 2013, Turkey’s domestic politics appeared to be polarized, characterized by uncertainties about the future and the ability of the country to meet them. A glance at Turkish politics lead any observer to identify some persistent problems as well as others that became more important. Many were linked with each other, and not all lent themselves to concerted policy action by the government and the opposition. A shortlist of these included the writing of a new constitution, the addressing of the Kurdish aspirations for ethnic recognition and rights, the redefinition of the position of the military in Turkish politics, the functioning of the Turkish judicial system, and the declining character of Turkish democracy.