Turkish constitutional transformation and the EU: Europeanisation towards constitutionalism?

Abstract

The 1987 approach understands and discerns certain features, both deficits and dynamics of Turkish democratic consolidation as well as Europeanisation efforts in the long term. The European Economic Community (EEC) as an external factor emerged in the constitutional debate for the first time in the making process of the 1982 Constitution. The judgment of the Constitutional Court in respect of Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (AKP) party is interesting in assessing the effects of Europeanisation in Turkey. The Inter-Party Constitutional Reconciliation Committee as prior consultation and deliberation body reflects inclusiveness and consensus democracy. The 2010 constitutional referendum became a popularity contest between ruling party and opposition where the content of amendments were not effectively and rationally discussed by political elite and civic society. In respect of human rights, the European Union (EU) refers to the European Convention of Human Rights and the constitutional traditions common to the 'member states' as general principles of EU law.