2019
Chapter
Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

The Republic of Turkey

Format:Print

Abstract

Situated between Europe and Asia, Turkey occupies a critical geostrategic position in the world. This unique geography, no doubt, has much to do with the complexities and continuities that have characterized the country’s political development. Turkey is anchored to Europe, both through a vast network of trade linkages, its membership in NATO, and its bid for European Union membership. So too is it enmeshed in the politics of the greater Middle East by virtue of its proximity to and involvement in conflict zones in Syria and Iraq, as well as its dependence on Iranian energy resources. As this chapter describes, since the birth of the Republic, striking this balance has proved challenging, and so too have the dynamics of Turkey’s domestic politics, which are marked by a strong tradition of executive rule punctuated by fleeting stints of democratic deepening and political liberalization.

Keywords

Government and Politics; International Relations; Turkey

Citation

Fabbe, Kristin. "The Republic of Turkey." Chap. 14 in Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa: Development, Democracy, and Dictatorship. 9th ed. Edited by Sean Yom. New York: Routledge, 2019.