Democratic Transition in Turkey

Abstract

The roots of Turkey's constitutional history are found in the late years of the Ottoman Empire and the 1876 Ottoman Constitution. The first republican constitution in 1924 set a preference for a parliamentary system, however majoritarian pressures have existed since the advent of multi-party politics. The 1982 Constitution prioritized state interests over human rights and came under heavy pressure during the 1999-2005 democratization process. While the AKP first spearheaded the introduction of a liberal democratic constitution, it later shifted its interest in promoting a majoritarian shift reinforcing the powers of the president.