Over the past year, the topic of referendums has been on the tongue of every politician and political analyst alike. As is well known, the British government chose to hold (and the British people even more surprisingly chose to vote for) one on independence from the European Union. Now, once again, a referendum has stolen the spotlight, but unlike Britain, its outcome could cast a shadow of fear across the entire free world.
The referendum in question is taking place on Sunday, April 16, 2017. The Turkish people will be voting on whether to approve or reject of the adoption of eighteen new amendments to their constitution. These amendments are far from cosmetic, if approved they would end the parliamentary system Turkey currently enjoys.
They would dissolve the office of Prime Minister, and therefore also the selection of the cabinet from the parliament by the Prime Minister. The amendments would transfer these powers through the establishment of a presidential system that would invest the powers of the Prime Minister (the head of government) into the office of the President of Turkey; which, as of now, is supposed to be a rather weak and largely ceremonial role, as is the case in most parliamentary republics.
It is no coincidence this movement for changes to the Constitution comes at a time when the current President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, just recently clawed his way back to power; after a failed military coup in the summer of 2016 nearly deposed him. Since the coup, he has clamped down on the freedom of the press, and any dissent in general; while simultaneously advocating for the new reforms that would solidify his power by reinforcing it structurally.
To make matters worse, Erdogan’s political jockeying (for autocratic power) has been ominously complimented with his sympathies for the re-Islamization of the Turkish nation.
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, amidst the end of World War One, the lands of the Anatolian Peninsula were consolidated into the Turkish republic, lead by the Western-educated and secular Mustafa Ataturk (who also served as its first president). During Ataturk’s administration, and for almost a century following it, Turkey stood out among the nations of the Middle East as a nation of tolerance, peace, and secular constitutional government; and was often hailed as being one of the most successful foreign adopters of Western enlightenment ideals.
Yet, all this is beginning to change, as Erdogan has gained increasing influence. The Turkish Ministry of Education recently released a new draft of the future education policy. The new policy aims to eliminate classes that teach about Ataturk and the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, as well as science classes that teach evolution. Educators are worried that the push towards “national and moral” education is a thinly veiled ploy to push Sunni Islam, and religious nationalism, on the children of Turkey.
As bad as it seems, all hope is not yet lost. Many Turks are skeptical of such measures, and recent polling is indicating that a slight majority is opposed to ratifying the proposed amendments; and plan to vote ‘no’ on the referendum. This could be the make or break moment for Turkey’s future. Will they choose liberal democracy or Islamic autocracy? Come April, we will know – for better or for worse!
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