Turkish Politics
Turkey is an important state in the world, placed 16th according to her population among 185 countries, 32nd according to expanse of territory and 16th as regards economic strength. Turkey also occupies an important geo-political and geo-strategic position in the Middle East and the Caspian Basin, which has the greatest oil reserves in the world; the Mediterranean Basin; the Black Sea Basin and the Turkish Straits, which have always maintained their importance in history; and in the Balkans, which have undergone considerable changes following the disintegration of the Soviet Union (USSR) and Yugoslavia. Turkey is situated very near the Caucasus and Central Asia, and located at the crossroads to three continents. Turkish history can be characterized a struggle between the forces of absolutism and reform. In 1914, the country became embroi
The issue of Turkey's acceptance into EU membership is perhaps one of the biggest and most divisive questions on the horizon for the EU. Clearly, this has a great significance for the Kurdish people as it is the only time that Kurdish cities can be easily represented by a Kurdish party. led in World War I on the side of Germany. While on one hand the Kurdish people are hopeful with the elections, on the other hand, there are serious concerns about participating in the elections. The EU may require referendums in each of the EU countries for acceptance of Turkey into its membership. The local elections in Turkey are held every 5 years and unlike the general elections, no threshold is implemented in these elections. However, the Kurdish question remains a key sticking point and Turkey is eager to prove to the world that the Kurds are finally joining the political and economic mainstream. The Treaty of Sevres (1920), which liquidated the Ottoman Empire, provided for the creation of an autonomous Kurdish state. This is thus a pivotal moment in Turkish history and the world awaits the answer to the 'Turkish Question' with bated breath. The local elections will be held to choose new mayors and municipal council members. The Kurds in Iran also rebelled during the 1920s, and at the end of World War II a Soviet-backed Kurdish "republic" existed briefly. Defeated and discredited, the Ottoman dynasty was overthrown in 1923 by a revolutionary movement led by Mustafa Kemal - better known as Ataturk - who established a single-party republic and laid the foundations of modern Turkey. Because of Turkey's military revival under Kemal Ataturk, however, the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), which superseded Sevres, failed to mention the creation of a Kurdish nation. EU governments are due to decide in December 2004 whether to open negotiations with Ankara, and Turkey is hoping negotiations for membership will begin in early 2005.
Common topics in this essay:
Soviet-backed Kurdish,
Ankara Turkey,
,
Kurds Turkey,
Central Asia,
Turkey's EU,
Treaty Lausanne,
Turkish Straits,
Nations Defeated,
Kemal Ataturk,
local elections,
elections held,
kurdish people,
municipal council,
kemal ataturk,
local elections held,
world war,
turkish history,
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Acceptance Essays
