The scale of public protest against the attempted coup d’état in 2016 was a tribute to the vitality of the democratic ideal in Turkey. Nevertheless, it also brought into focus some of the limitations of Turkey’s political system and encouraged Presedent Erdogan’s authoritarian tendencies. Can Turkey still be regarded as a model for the Middle East? Is there any hope that a more liberal form of secular democracy can emerge from this crisis?
The speakers are Dr Lina Khatib, head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House; Bill Park, writer on Turkish politics; Firdevs Robinson, writer on Turkish foreign and domestic policy; Dr Mina Toksoz, emerging markets economist. The chair is Joel Cohen, communications manager, BeyondMe and associate fellow, Institute of Ideas.
