{
"authors": [
"Marc Pierini",
"Marietje Schaake",
"Jan Techau",
"Sinan Ülgen"
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"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"Carnegie Europe"
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"collections": [
"Turkey’s Transformation"
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"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Europe",
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"regions": [
"Middle East",
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"topics": [
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}
Beyond the Ballot Box: Advancing Democracy in Turkey
Wed, September 25th, 2013
Brussels
Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has had an unprecedented string of election victories, launched major reforms, and improved social services, thanks to almost ten years of economic growth. Yet, the party’s increasingly authoritarian practices and restrictions on individual freedoms are at odds with its stated objective of establishing an advanced democracy. Popular discontent with the AKP’s suppressive policies erupted with major civil protests in May and June 2013.
Marc Pierini, Marietje Schaake, member of the European Parliament, and Sinan Ülgen addressed freedom of cultural expression and coexistence of lifestyles in Turkey—two issues that are crucial to the advancement of democracy in Turkey. Jan Techau moderated.
The discussion, hosted in cooperation with the Open Society Foundations—Turkey, marked the release of Pierini’s latest paper, Individual Freedoms in Turkey.
An Anadolu Kültür photo exhibition, “Views from Within: 2013 Gezi Park Protests,” followed the event.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
Event Speakers
Marc Pierini
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe
Pierini is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, where his research focuses on developments in the Middle East and Turkey from a European perspective.
Marietje Schaake
Jan Techau
Director, Europe Team, Eurasia Group
Techau is director with Eurasia Group's Europe team, covering Germany and European security from Berlin. Previously, he was director of Carnegie Europe.
