The year 2023 will mark the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic. The government has set this fast-approaching date as the deadline for many financial, political, and social targets. In this issue of TPQ, we focus on the complex and interrelated challenges Turkey faces in the decade ahead to fulfill its centennial goals.

“The goal of becoming the 10th largest global economy is accompanied by an export volume target of 500 billion U.S. dollars, which is virtually triple Turkey’s present export performance.”

“If (…) we end up as the 12th largest economy in the world, this should not necessarily be perceived as a failure but instead as a success because it would be a sure sign that the country is on the right track.”

“The most important structural problem Turkey faces is its excessive reliance on foreign capital inflows in its growth model, which makes it difficult to attain a sustainable growth path.”

“Turkey can achieve its goals for 2023 and beyond only if it emerges as a stable and mature democracy that provides the necessary background for a successful economy and a thriving business community.”

“As long as violence against women is widespread and accepted, there can be no genuine mention of gender equality.”

“The main obstacle in the way of achieving gender equality has never been the legislation, it has been the patriarchal mentality.”

“The role of the media cannot be emphasized enough. Gender bias in the media strengthens gender stereotypes and normalizes violence against women.”

“2014 will be the year of local elections in Turkey. It is important that political parties adopt a gender equality approach while forming their election lists.”

“In the Mediterranean, more than anywhere else, engagement in ecological transition is necessary, at the risk of jeopardizing the conditions that make our way of life possible.”

“With its capacity to address the Mediterranean from both shores, as well as its position in the Mediterranean ecosystem, Turkey’s responsibility is of key importance.”

“The vitality of the debate in Turkey, especially concerning the protection of biodiversity, urbanization and energy, demonstrates an alert environmental awareness of the Turkish people.”

“An education system that is human rights-oriented with a major emphasis on the individual student should be a vital part of the strategy for 2023.”

“The system is geared to impart an ideology that emphasizes a reverence for the state versus the individual, and learning by rote at the expense of critical thinking.”

“Frequent and politically-motivated tampering with the system only retards and hampers the task of increasing children’s access to the school system and hinders quality in education.”

“The population of Turkey is the youngest in Europe. We have 31 million under-25s, many of whom are part of a growing and upwardly-mobile middle class.”

“In a world undergoing enormous social evolution at a dizzying pace, the Olympic Values can provide a guiding North Star for our children.”

“Considering its demographic advantages, unique geographic location, resources, and high economic growth, Turkey is a potential candidate to become an international finance hub.”

“In Turkey, the main area in need of reform is the legal and regulatory framework in order to improve the business environment.”

“It is important for EU strategic interests that gas from the Caspian region flows to Europe as promptly and efficiently as possible.”

“Shah Deniz Stage 2 can be considered the ‘first mover’ in a series of projects that will make a significant contribution to Europe’s energy security.”

“While Turkey’s progress in extending health coverage has delivered positive health outcomes, the system is saddled with poor incentives that could lead to excessive budgetary impacts and unpopular rationing.”

“Turkey should promote greater reliance on private health insurance to support Universal Health Coverage, with government funding being targeted at the needs of the vulnerable.”

“Turkey needs a strong civil sector to achieve the goals it has set forth, whether it is for providing services, advocating for effective policies, or fulfilling its ‘watchdog’ role.”

“Recent ‘open house’ forums organized in some Istanbul neighborhood parks might be a good first step in the direction of community mobilization initiatives.”

“Turkey should begin prioritizing renewable energy, as it possesses a substantial potential in solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and bio-combustible energy resources.”

“Reliance on imported fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas exposes Turkey to vulnerabilities such as energy dependence, environmental degradation, and a high current account deficit.”

“China is likely to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy by 2019 at market exchange rates.”

“As the world’s gravity is shifting back to the Silk Road, which bound ancient civilizations, a new era of Turkish-Chinese foreign relations appears to be dawning.”

“The pioneers of the 10 global brands initiative in Turkey mistook selling locally made products to the world for ‘nation branding’.”

“On its path to create global brands, if not by 2023, in the future Turkey will have to revisit the challenges which today’s developed countries have faced in the past.”

“Southeast Europe (SEE), outside the euro area itself, was indirectly affected by the crisis through the trade and finance spillover channels and because of the linkages and dependence on the EU markets.”

“The SEE countries should better understand the European integration story. It is a history of coordination and integration, supra-nationalism and inter-governmentalism.”

“Although the rapprochement process has not managed to solve ‘high politics’ issues between the two countries completely, it has contributed significantly to the maintenance of peace and stability between Turkey and Greece.”

“In the case of Syria, the murky nature of the guerrilla fighting and the growing sectarian ties of both the rebels and government forces make a potential military intervention extremely difficult.”

“In today’s troubled climate, considering the unrest in Syria, global economic turmoil, and continuing questions on energy security, few countries play a key role such as Turkey does and few regions are as challenging as the one around Istanbul.”

On 2 July 2013, Turkish Policy Quarterly (TPQ) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) hosted a roundtable discussion titled ‘The Evolving Relations of Turkey and Israel’. This analysis reviews the main arguments and points made by the speakers and participants.