Turkey

From 2004 to 2005, the Civil Society Index was implemented in Turkey by the Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV), with the international coordination of CIVICUS. This implementation led to the publication of an analytical country report, presenting the results of the CSI initiative in the country.

Civil Society in Turkey (2005): An Era of Transition

During 2004 and 2005, TUSEV collected information and inputs from a broad range of stakeholders and utilized a plethora of secondary sources to assess the state of civil society in Turkey. The resulting CSI report became the first comprehensive and internationally comparative study on civil society’s structure, environment, values and impact in Turkey.

The CSI study provided insights on the current state of civil society in Turkey. It shows that Turkish civil society is at a nascent stage of its development and revealed its limited strength. However, Turkish civil society finds itself undergoing a significant era of transformation. The report highlights the challenges and opportunities facing Turkish civil society and puts forth a number of recommendations to strengthen civil society’s contribution to a sustainable, democratic and open Turkish society.

From 2008 to 2010, the Civil Society Index is being implemented by the Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV).

Civil Society in Turkey: At a Turning Point

A close look at the research findings shows civil society’s growing impact, expanding areas of activity and impressive initiatives to address some of Turkey’s most pressing social and political concerns. When compared to two decades ago, civil society’s arena and its organisations’ development have reached impressive heights.

In this context, the previous CSI study (2006) pictured civil society in a conceptual and operational era of transition. Although research findings then showed more weaknesses than strengths, they also pointed towards some opportunities and potential for civil society actors to tackle the country’s democratisation and development goals.

The current CSI study (2010) continues to show civil society in Turkey in an era of transition with more weaknesses than strengths. Although some of the opportunities that were pointed out in the first study have been addressed, the acceleration of civil society’s transition has decreased. The persistence of some major weaknesses is worrisome and points towards future obstacles. As such, the CSI study portrays civil society in Turkey facing a major turning point: it will either build on its strengths to deepen its role as an indispensable actor in social and political life in Turkey; or it will enter a period of stagnation that is bound by its persistent weaknesses.

 

CSI Country Reports in Turkey