Erdoğan’s Presidential Dreams, Turkey’s Constitutional Politics

By

P. Scharfe

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Republic Protests in 2007.

Republic Protests, 2007

In 2007, Republic Protests supported the Kemalist reforms against a believed threat of the Islamization of Turkey.

The iconic 'Woman in Red' image.

Protests in Turkey, 2013

What's been deemed the iconic "Woman in Red" image from the 2013 protests against the development of Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park.

Levent District in Istanbul.

Levent District, Istanbul

Levent, a business district in Istanbul, boasts some of the city's tallest buildings in Turkey's largest city.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha appears on the cover of Time magazine.

"Where is a Turk his own master?"

Mustafa Kemal Pasha appears on the cover of Time magazine's March 24, 1923 issue.

Presidents Erdoğan and Obama photographed in the White House.

Erdoğan and Barack Obama

The Presidents photographed in White House, December 7, 2009.

The first President of Turkey during a smoking break.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

The first President of Turkey during a smoking break, 1936.

Muhammed Fethullah Gülen and Pope John Paul II.

Muhammed Fethullah Gülen

This Turkish preacher founded the Gülen movement. Here is he pictured with Pope John Paul II in 1998.

Republican People's Party

This flag is the logo for Kemalist ideology of the Republican People's Party of Turkey (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi [CHP]).

The motto of Turkey's education system is emblazoned on a mountainside.

Ne mutlu Türküm diyene

This motto of Turkey's education system translates to "How happy is the one who says I am a Turk." Atatürk coined the phrase during a 1933 speech. Here it is emblazoned on a mountainside.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower meets with President Celal Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes.

Adnan Menderes, 1959

President Dwight D. Eisenhower (left) meets with President Celal Bayar (center) and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes (right) at the Presidential Residence in Çankaya.

Women in headscarves attending the protests.

Taksim Square Peaceful Protests, 2013

Women in headscarves attending the protests.

This front cover led to the closure of NTV History magazine.

Yaşarken Yazılan Tarih

This front cover (focused on the Gezi protests) led to the closure of NTV History magazine by its administration.

The speaker's seat at the GNA.

Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT)

Behind the speaker's seat at the GNA are the words, "sovereignty belongs, without any restrictions or conditions, to the nation."

Turkey's presidential seal.

Turkey's Presidential Seal

As it is seen used on documents.

16 stars on this flag represent 16 claimed historical Turkic empires.

Turkey's Presidential Flag

16 stars on this flag represent 16 claimed historical Turkic empires.

The Controversial 'Ergenekon' Trials.

“Ergenekon” Trials

The Controversial “Ergenekon” Trials.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Founder of the Turkish Republic.

Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes.

Adnan Menderes

Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes.

Turkey's 1980 military coup.

Military Coup, 1980

Turkey's 1980 Military Coup.

Turkish President Kenan Evren.

Kenan Evren

1980 Coup Leader and Later Turkish President Kenan Evren.

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Cite this Site

P. Scharfe , "Erdoğan’s Presidential Dreams, Turkey’s Constitutional Politics" , Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective

December, 2014

https://origins.osu.edu/article/erdo-s-presidential-dreams-turkey-s-constitutional-politics.