31.10.2011

Towards A New Turkish Constitution?

Critical Perspectives on the Discourse over Pluralism and Democracy in Turkey

Zeit: 10.11.2011 18:15 h
Ort: CNMS, Deutschhausstr. 12, Hörsaal 00 A26

Weitere Informationen:

In the run-up to the Turkish national elections of June 2011, the most hotly debated issue was the need for a new and democratic constitution. Even though all political parties appeared to be supportive of the idea, controversies over the extent and nature of constitutional reform prevail to the present day. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), despite securing their third consecutive victory since 2002, failed to win a two-thirds majority in the Turkish Parliament that would have allowed them to write a new constitution without seeking consensus with the opposition. Meanwhile,hard bargain has been taking place between the government and the opposition parties, involving questions such as:

• Who will write Turkey’s new Constitution? Will it bring a more democratic and pluralist society guaranteeing equal rights and protection to all its citizens?

• Will the secularist principles of the present constitution be preserved or will we see a push towards establishing a constitution based on Islamic ethics?

• Will the new constitution finally guarantee freedom of expression and freedom of press?

These and further questions will be discussed with two leading Turkish journalists:

Ergun Babahan, Star Gazetesi, Istanbul

Taylan Bilgiç, Managing Editor, Hürriyet Daily News, Istanbul

Begrüßung: Eyüp Beşir, Forum für Interkulturellen Dialog e.V., Frankfurt
Einleitung: Layla Distler, Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Philipps-Universität Marburg
Moderation: Dr. Pierre Hecker, Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien, Philipps-Universität Marburg

Veranstalter:

Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien (CNMS), Forums für Interkulturellen Dialog e.V. (FID) und Institut für Politikwissenschaft der Universität Marburg