A Movement for Change: Forging a Bright Future on Firm Principles, Winter 2009

Turkey is emerging as a global leader, but its inconsistent behavior clashes with principles of true democracy. Turkey’s human and democratic development lags and Turkey is creating new problems with friends, not “no problems” with neighbors. While Turkey decried the suffering in Gaza, it defended Sudan’s president against war crimes charges. While it combated anti-democratic behavior domestically, it quickly congratulated Ahmedinejad for an election victory where political opposition was violently suppressed. The appearance that Turkey is soft on human rights violations committed by Muslims is doing serious damage to its international stature. Turkey’s failure to strengthen democracy at home is jeopardizing its EU accession and its people’s future. Turkey needs a principled movement for change to carry forward the democratic foundations of the Republic and forge a bright future for its people.