AREA HANDBOOK REPUBLIC OF TURKEY Co-Authors Howard C. Reese Prepared for The American University by Systems Research Corporation Research and writing were completed on November 1, 1968 Published For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402-Price $3.50 FOREWORD This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared under the auspices of Foreign Area Studies (FAS) of The American University, designed to be useful to military and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political and military institutions and practices of various countries. The emphasis is on objective description of the nation's present society and the kinds of possible or probable changes that might be expected in the future. The handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced an integrated exposition as limitations on space and research time permit. It was compiled from information available in openly published material. Extensive bibliographies are provided to permit recourse to other published sources for more detailed information. There has been no attempt to express any specific point of view or to make policy recommendations. The contents of the handbook represent the work of the authors and FAS and do not represent the official view of the United States Government. An effort has been made to make the handbook as comprehensive as possible. It can be expected, however, that the material, interpretations and conclusions are subject to modification in the light of new information and developments. Such corrections, additions and suggestions for factual, interpretive or other change as readers may have will be welcomed for use in future revisions. Comments may be addressed to The Director Foreign Area Studies The American University PREFACE Proud of its Central Asian and pre-Turkish Anatolian past, Turkey, nevertheless, identifies itself with the West as demonstrated by associate membership in the European Economic Community (EEC) and full status in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As the anchor of NATO forces in southeastern Europe, Turkey has a critical role in the defense of that region. In 1965, a new era opened when the Justice Party won a majority in the election that ended 4 years of coalition government after 18 months of military rule. Rooted in a rededication to the principles of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), the Second Republic began to function in a framework of political pluralism and stability. Industrial progress began to make impressive strides despite the persistence of continuing problems. As of late 1968, the economy was in an intermediate stage, but the most promising in the Middle East. This book is an attempt to provide, in compact, convenient, balanced and objective form, an integrated exposition and analysis of the dominant social, political, and economic aspects of the Turkish society. It is designed to give readers an understanding of the dynamics of the component elements of the society and an insight into the ideas and feelings, the goals, and the hopes and fears of its people. The main reliance has been on secondary sources, but a number of consultants have provided recent firsthand information on particular phases of the study. Two of the authors had experience in the Peace Corps, Mrs. Peggy Comeau and Phillip Siffing. Extensive use has been made of newspapers, other periodicals, and official and semiofficial reports and studies currently published in Ankara. Spellings of Turkish words are based on forms judged to be most convenient to the American reader and most diacritical marks have been omitted. The guiding principle has been to follow current usage in standard periodicals and books in English. A glossary is included as an appendix for the reader's convenience, but most of the terms in the glossary have been defined in the text. An effort has been made to avoid the use of foreign words and phrases; the |