Turkey - Learning module

Merhaba!

Turkey - Türkiye

Learning Module

START

Here is some traditional Turkish music that you can listen to while learning with this module!

Before you start...

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index

6. Culture

5. Politics

4. History

3. Demographics

2. Geography

1. Introduction

Introduction

Here are some key reasons for the name change:

• Better representation of Turkish culture and values.
• Standardization of labeling for exported goods and products.
• Dissociation from the bird with the same name and other English definitions (e.g. Failure/Flop, a stupid person).

It translates to Land of the Turks and has been the internal official name since 1923 but also the internationally recognized name since June 3rd, 2022.

Turkey - Etymology

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Turkish people refer to their country as Türkiye which is derived from the Medieval Latin word Turchia / Turquia.

Turkey - Etymology

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Turkey - Flag

It served as the final flag of the Ottoman Empire, and several interpretations surround its symbolism. The most prevalent theory suggests that it represents the reflection of the moon and the stars on the blood of martyrs.

Over time, the flag also became a symbol related to Islam when the Muslim Turks conquered the Anatolian peninsula and inspired other national flags such as Azerbaijan or Tunisia, as mentioned in the previous question.

Turkey - Flag

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The Turkish flag consists of a red background and a white crescent with a 5-pointed star. It is commonly referred to as the “Al Sancak/ Al Bayrak” (red flag/banner) and “Ay Yildiz” (moon with star) in the Turkish language.

Turkey - Language

The alphabet contains 29 letters, excluding some (Q,X,W) and including new letters (Ç,Ş,Ğ,I,İ,Ö and Ü) to better fit the spoken language.

It is a major member of:

• the Turkic
• and the Altaic language group.

The modern language is derived from Ottoman Turkish, which was heavily influenced by Arabic and Persian, especially the script. It was later replaced with a modified Latin alphabet by Turkey's first president Atatürk in order to simplify the writing system, enhance education, and align Turkey with European norms and practices while purifying itself from Arabian influence.

Turkey - Language

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Turkish is the official language of Turkey while Kurdish (11 % of the population) and Arabic (1.4 % of the population) have a fair share, too.

Coğrafya - Geography

Kadın - Woman

Çarşamba - Wednesday

Here are some Turkish words to better understand the pronunciation.

Pronunciation

Turkey - Language

Example for agglutination:

• "Ev" - House.
• "Evde" - (A person is) in the house.
• "Evdeyim" - I'm at home.
• "Evdemisin?" - Are you at home?

Here are some key points:

• There are no gender articles.
• It follows a [Subject] [Object] [Verb] - structure in contrast to English and German.
• It is an agglutinative language.

Agglutination means that you can add several suffixes to a word in order to change its meaning and structure. You can even create sentences with just one word!

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Is Turkish grammar hard to learn? - No. On the contrary, it is quite consistent and systematic.

Grammar

Turkey - Language

Geography

Geography - Area

Click on the map to reveal the location of Turkey.

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Geography - location

Geography

This section covers a general overview about Turkey's unique location, nature and important cities.

Turkey consists of the Anatolian peninsula (the red part also called Asia Minor) and the Eastern Thrace peninsula (the green European part), thus making Turkey a transcontinental country spanning both Europe and Asia.Click on the blue icons to see the colored parts of the map.

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Geography - location

Mediterranean region

Aegean region

Central Anatolian region

Black Sea region

Southeastern Anatolian region

Eastern Anatolian region

Marmara region

In general, Turkey is divided into 7 regions:

• Marmara region
• Black Sea region
• Aegean region
• Mediterranean region
• Central Anatolian region
• Eastern Anatolian region
• Southeastern Anatolian region

Click on the map to reveal the regions!

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Geography - location

Unlike Germany or the US, Turkey doesn't have a federal system. Instead, each provincial government is subordinate to the central government, thus forming a highly centralized unitary system.

In the coming years, about 24-25 districts may become provinces as they have fulfilled the requirements.

Geography - administrative divisions

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Turkey is subdivided into 81 administrative provinces (il ) with each having an assigned number. The provinces are administered by governors (vali or kaymakam) and are further divided into districts (ilce).

Geography - Capital

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Here are the ten largest cities in Turkey by population in 2021:

Geography - Important Cities

You can watch this video to get a glimpse of Turkey's many beautiful locations.

For more information

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Demographics

Demographics

In this section, we will take a closer look at Turkey's population, ethnic and religious makeup and other intriguing statistics.

Constitutional definition:

• All citizens of the Turkish Republic without distinction of race or religion.
• Thus, ethnic minorities are not officially addressed.

Turkish - Turkic:

• Someone or something originating from Turkey is a Turk/Turkish.
• Turkic refers to the Turkic people and tribes residing in other countries like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and others, in addition to Turkey.

Demographics - Differentiation

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First of all, we must differentiate some terms before looking at the statistics.

Turkey also hosts the highest number of international refugees (as of 2021) with around 3.7 million Syrians.

Let's take a look at the estimated ethnic composition of the Turkish population.

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dEMOGRAPHICS - ethnic pOPULATION

Youth population: 15.3% (age 15 - 24) - It's slightly higher than the EU average which is 10.6 %Median age: 33.1 years - The median age in Germany (in 2020) was 44.9 years

Urbanization: 75.2 % - It's on par with Germany (77.5%).

Life expectancy: 78.5 years (women: 81 yrs; men: 76 yrs) - It is average compared to the rest of the world (73 yrs).

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dEMOGRAPHICS - pOPULATION

Demographics - Population

They have migrated for various reasons, including economic opportunities, education, and political factors. Turkish expatriates often maintain a strong connection to their Turkish identity, language, and traditions while integrating into their host countries.

Thus, they have established their own identity which is however not always eagerly seen on the Turkish side because of different views regarding political, economic and cultural topics.

Demographics - Turkish diaspora

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Turkish people living outside of Turkey are known as the Turkish diaspora. They have established communities in different countries across the globe e.g. Germany (largest diaspora due to the Guest Worker agreements in the 1960s), Netherlands, Austria and also in the US and the MENA region.

Here is an estimated overview about religious distribution.

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dEMOGRAPHICS - Religion

History

Historic eras

In order to get a concise overview of the Turkish history, this section is divided into three eras:

• The Pre-Ottoman era
• The Ottoman Empire
• Turkish Republic

Phrygia

Achaemenids

Click on the dots on the timeline to learn more about the corresponding era.

Çatalhöyük

Bronze Age

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Pre-Ottoman Era

Byzantine

Seljuks

Click on the dots on the timeline to learn more about the corresponding era.

Hellenists

roman

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Pre-Ottoman Era

At its height, the Empire stretched from Eastern Europe (even around Austria) to the Arabian peninsula and the Northern Africa region.Therefore, it had to manage its cultural diversity and multiethnicity through the millet system, which allowed non-Islamic groups to maintain their own legal customs and administrative structures. However, the sultan still held ultimate authority as the political and Islamic leader.

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The Ottoman Empire was founded by Osman I around 1326 AD and expanded throughout the years due to fights against the Mongols and Byzantines. The siege of constantinople in 1453 sealed the end of the Byzantine Empire.

Beginnings

Ottoman Empire

History - Ottoman Empire

Turkish nationalists, led by Mustafa Kemal, opposed the Treaty of Sèvres, fought back against invading forces, and created parallel governmental structures to dismantle the remaining influence of Ottoman rule.As a result, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed, which acknowledged the boundaries of modern Turkey and revoked military and financial influences by the Axis forces.

War of independence

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The decline began in the late 17th century because of internal conflicts, pressure from European countries and the "Tanzimat"-period.The Ottoman leadership concluded after World War I due to the alliance with the Central Powers, rise of nationalist movements and other conflicts and tragedies. They also accepted the Treaty of Sèvres, which imposed extensive territorial losses, financial burdens and military restrictions.

DEcline of the ottoman empire

Ottoman Empire

Atatürk's ideology is engraved in the Turkish constitution and based on the following six fundamental principles:

• Republicanism
• Nationalism
• Populism
• Secularism
• Statism
• Reformism

On October 29th, 1923, the Turkish Republic was declared by Mustafa Kemal (later known as Atatürk - The father of Turks) as its first president. The Grand Assembly was dominated by Atatürk's own party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), until the 1950's when the multiparty system was introduced.

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Declaration of the Republic

Turkish Republic

Nationalism:

• The disregard for ethnic minorities and religious customs/traditions caused classism and even the founding of terrorist groups (e.g. the PKK).

Secularism:

• The military intervened in politics when they considered civilian rule as ineffective.
• Oppression of Islamic elements in society and politics (like the headscarf ban in the 1980s) which lead to many Islamic-motivated parties.
• These issues contributed to many coup d'états (1960, 1971, 1980, 1997 and 2016).

Consequences of Kemalism

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Some of the core values resulted in major issues within the Republic that persist till this day.

Politics

Politics

Turkey emerged as an important political player in the modern world due to its geographical location. We will take a closer look at Turkey's political system, the elections in 2023 and also the relationship with foreign countries.

Politics - Political system

Grand National Assembly

Every citizen over 18 years old

Courts

Council of Ministers

Turkey is a constitutional republic and a presidential representative democracy. The multi-party system was established after World War I. Every citizen over 18 years old has the right to vote. Click on the boxes below to learn more about each branch of the government.

Political system

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Politcs - System

Opponents, on the other hand, fear a concentration of power in the presidency with potential risks to checks and balances, avoidance of democratic accountability while leading to a more centralized and authoritorian style of governance (e.g. the decline of the press freedom index in the recent years).

Advocates believe, that this system would provide more stability, efficiency and even more effective governance by streamlining decision-making processes. They also refer to past incidents, where the former system lead to political deadlock and high bureaucracy efforts during critical times.

Turkey changed its political system in 2017 through a constitutional referendum. The system shifted from a parliamentary democracy to a presidential one with the intent of concentrating more power in the hands of the president. However, this sparked a massive discussion about Turkeys political future.

A critical referendum

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Politcs - presidential System

That is a hot debated topic among the Turkish population which can't be easily answered. We could argue that Turkey is located in a very dynamic environment influenced by civil unrest, economic downfall and historical factors e.g. living under several authoritorian leaderships for a long time (Ottoman Empire, Atatürk) and thus, requires a different style of rulership.However, in regards of the future and current events, a more refined checks and balances system is of utter importance.

Would it work in Turkey?

Many opponents of the current system would have preferred a semi-presidential system, just like in France.In contrast, France's system features a dual executive structure where the president and the prime minister share executive powers with the president primarily responsible for foreign policy, defense, and representing the state, while the prime minister oversees domestic policy and government administration. The prime minister is also accountable to the parliament.

France's Presidential System

Comparision to france's system

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Politcs - presidential System

Labor & Freedom Alliance Emek & Özgürlük Ittifaki

Nation Alliance Millet İttifakı

People's Alliance Cumhur İttifakı

Here are the main factions of Turkey's political landscape (as of 2023). Click on the logo of each party to learn a little bit more about them.

Political Parties

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Politcs - Parties

• Foreign policy
• Question of approaching the West and more distance towards Russia.

• Refugee status
• This election was marked by anti-refugee sentiment predominantly by the opposition parties.

• Economic problems
• President Erdoğan insisted on a low interest rate policy, leading to more economic complications and decreasing value of the Turkish lira.

• Massive earthquake in February 2023
• Government has been accused of insufficient observation of building standards.
• Rebuilding measures could burden the budget.
• Relocation and care of the affected people.

These are the topics that played a major role in the presidential and parliamentary election in 2023:

Premise

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Politcs - Elections 2023

People's Alliance: 323 seats, slight majorityNations Alliance: 212 seatsOther parties: 65 seats

Here are the results of the parliamentary elections as well as the major party in each district and province (2023):

REsults

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Politcs - Elections 2023

Here are the candidates and results of the first and second round.

REsults

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Politcs - Elections 2023

• Earthquake relief - Rebuilding of ca. 650,000 earthquake-proof flats.

• Refugee stance remains unchanged - Returnal of refugees should be based on a voluntary basis.

• Appointment of Financial minister Mehmet Şimşek and market-friendly faces for critical institutions (e.g. the central bank) is a sign for high interest rate in the coming years to curb inflation.

• Consideration of deviating from his initial promises and approaching the opposition in a more inclusive way.

These are the main topics and possible policy changes during Erdoğan's new election term:

What is to come?

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Politcs - Elections 2023

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Politics - Foreign policy

Here are some key factors:

• Prioritization of its own interests, given the country's location.
• Criticizing the UN Security Council with a “bigger than five" agenda.
• Juggling strong diplomatic ties on all fronts (US, Russia, EU and MENA) to also act as intermediators for critical situations (e.g. the Russia-Ukraine grain deal).

Politics - Foreign Policy

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As Turkey is located in a hotspot area with many problems in the surrounding area, it approaches diplomatic relationships quite differently and multifacetted.

Click on the countries on the map to learn more about Turkey's relationship with the respective countries.

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Politcs - Foreign relationships

Culture

Culture - index

5. Do's and Dont's

4. Business Culture

3. 6 Dimension Model

2. Lifestyle

1. General Facts

General Facts

General Facts

In this section, we will take a closer look at some general facts about Turkey's culture.

Culture - General Facts

Culture - General Facts

Culture - General Facts

sevgı (concept of mutual love between parents)

saygı (respect for the elder)

namus (family honour)

Şeref (personal dignity, personal honour)

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Turkish culture consists of four pillars:

Culture - General Facts

Lifestyle

Lifestyle

In this section, we will take a closer look at the lifestyle of Turkish people.

Older people are highly respected in the Turkish culture and are therefore often greeted first.

Lifestyle - Traditional Greeting

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When you meet someone new, you mostly give them a handshake, while family and friends are often being greeted with kisses on the cheek.

Bread is an important ingredient and is served with pretty much with every meal while often being used for dipping in soups or create sandwich-like meals.

Breakfast is considered the most important meal. It often consists of eggs, tomatoes, olives and of course bread again.

Lifestyle- Turkish food

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Food and meals are an essential aspect of Turkish culture.

Culture - Lifestyle

Wherever you go in Turkey, you will encounter the evil eye talisman (Nazar boncuk) in homes or even in a car’s rearview mirror in order to protect the owner from negative energy.

Lifestyle - Evil Eye talisman

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It is a blue eye-shaped circle, that is made out of glass and can be translated to glance. It is believed to expel evil doings. If things are going too well in your life, it apparently helps you to avoid negative situations.

The competition is held in an area called Er Meydanı (Field of contest). Contestants wear traditional black costumes and struggle to honor a centuries-old tradition, with the title of Kırkpınar Gold Arch, the Chief Wrestler.

Oil wrestling, which is also called ancestor sport, is a type of wrestling that has its own rules where the wrestlers are covered in olive oil. In wrestling, it is almost impossible for wrestlers to hold each other because they are soaked in oil.

Besides football, it is the most popular sport in Turkey and is the national sport.

Lifestyle - Greased Wrestling

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As in Germany, horns are honked at special events such as weddings. But people also like to honk when they see a friend on the side of the road, and they also draw attention to themselves with a spirited shout.

Lifestyle - Car Honking

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If you are traveling in Turkey, you are guaranteed to hear cars honking. Turks are known for their nervousness when it comes to sitting in traffic.

Culture - Lifestyle

19 May

1 May

23 April

1 January

Labor Day

Holiday of the Memory of Atatürk

Click on the dots on the timeline to learn more about the corresponding day.

New Year's Day

National Sovereignty Holiday

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Lifestyle - Holiday

10 November

29 October

19 september

30 August

Republic Day

Death anniversary Atatürk

Click on the dots on the timeline to learn more about the corresponding day.

Victory holiday

Veterans holiday

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Lifestyle - Holiday

Mrs. Fink lives with her family in Izmir, Turkey. One day she is at home alone when the doorbell rings and an acquaintance is standing at the front door. The acquaintance greets her and asks, “Where is your husband? I wanted to bring him something quickly." Mrs. Fink answers that her husband is not home at the moment, but that he must come soon and invites the acquaintance to come in.He declines: “Hmm, okay. Then I'll just leave this with you and you give it to him, okay? Give him my best regards. Bye." Surprised that the acquaintance does not wait a moment for her husband, Mrs. Fink takes the bag he gives her and closes the door. She is surprised that he does not come in and talk to her until her husband arrives.

situation:

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Lifestyle - critical incident

Lifestyle - critical incident

The Turkish acquaintance does not want to enter the apartment because Mrs. Fink is alone at home. It is not proper for an acquaintance, but also a friend or brother of the husband, to wait alone with the wife in the apartment. This would violate sexual morals, thus consequently violating the honor of the wife and also the honor of her husband. For the German Mrs. Fink it is natural to invite the acquaintance in. In Germany it is nothing special to be alone in the apartment with male acquaintances - known to one's husband - or relatives. This situation is not threatening to the honor of either the woman or the man. In Turkey, the acquaintance would only be able to enter the house and talk to Mrs. Fink without any problems if her husband were present. In this situation, however, he has no choice but to decline the invitation.

Solution:

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Lifestyle - critical incident

6-d model

6 dimensionS model

In this section, we will take a closer look at Turkey's lifestyle.

Indulgence

Long Term Orientation

Uncertainty Avoidance

Masculinity

Individualism

Power Distance

The 6 dimensions model describes the values of a country on the basis of 6 predefined dimensions. The values range from 0 to 100.

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6 dimension model

6 dimension model

Turkey scores high on this dimension (score of 66) which means that the following attributes characterize the relationship between a boss and his employees:

• High dependency and hierarchy with superiors who are often inaccessible. In addition, the ideal boss is a father figure.
• Power is centralized and managers rely on their bosses and rules. Employees expect to be told what to do. Control is expected and attitude towards managers is formal.
• Communication is indirect and the information flow is selective. The same structure can be observed in the family unit, where the father is a kind of patriarch to whom others submit.

Power Distance (66)

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6 dimension model

Turkey, with a score of 37, is a collectivist society. This means that the We is important. People belong to in-groups (families, clans or organizations) who look after each other in exchange for loyalty. Communication is indirect and the harmony of the group has to be maintained, thus open conflicts are avoided. The relationship is built on a moral basis and is prioritized over task fulfillment. Time must be invested initially to establish a relationship of trust. Nepotism may be found more often.

Individualism (37)

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6 dimension model

6 dimension model

Turkey scores 45 and is on the non-assertive side of the scale. This means that the softer aspects of culture, such as leveling with others, consensus and sympathy for the underdog, are valued and encouraged. Conflicts are avoided in private and work-life consensus is important at the end of the day. Leisure time is important for Turks, as it is the time when the whole family, clan and friends come together to enjoy life. Status is shown, but this is due to the high PDI.

Assertiveness (45)

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6 dimension model

6 dimension model

Turkey scores 85 on this dimension and thus there is a huge need for laws and rules. In order to minimize anxiety, people make use of a lot of rituals. For foreigners, they might seem religious, with the many references to Allah, but often they are just traditional social patterns, used in specific situations to ease tension.

Uncertainty Avoidance (85)

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6 dimension model

Turkey’s intermediate score of 46 is in the middle of the scale so no dominant cultural preference can be inferred.

Long Term Orientation (46)

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6 dimension model

With an intermediate score of 49, a characteristic corresponding to this dimension cannot be determined for Turkey.

Indulgence (49)

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6 dimension model

Business Culture

Business Culture

In this section, we will take a closer look at Turkey's business culture.

Business Culture- Trust and respect

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The Turkish business culture is characterized by the friendliness and courtesy of the Turks, which leads to the fact that respect and trust are important aspects in business. It is important for a boss to have a good personal relationship with his employees, and this is also the relationship between business partners.

It is also common that in the first meetings only lower ranking partners will meet you, and only after an initial trust has been established will you be able to talk to seniors.

Ranks and hierarchy are established and observed in Turkey.

Decisions are made from the top, but the opinion of the whole team is also taken into account.

Business Culture- Hierarchy

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Business Culture- Communication

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In meetings with known business partners, it is customary to talk briefly about personal matters before business, such as family or sports. This helps to maintain a good and trustworthy relationship. During conversations, eye contact should always be maintained and both gestures and emotions are common during negotiations.

Culture - Business Culture

It is also important to note that during the fasting month of Ramadan many Turks will fast and so out of respect you should refrain from drinking, eating or smoking in front of your business partners during the day.

In a Muslim-dominated Turkey, one will certainly come into contact with Muslim business partners. Therefore, it is important that prayer times and especially Friday prayers are respected.

Business Culture - Religion

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• Work and life are strictly divided.
• You stick to plans and changes are unusual.
• Most of the time only one person is talking and is not interrupted.
• Direct communication is common and critique is not taken personally.

German business Culture

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• Work goes beyond working hours.

• Plans often change and you need to adapt.

• In conversations, many people talk at the same time or end your sentence.

• Critique can be taken personal, so you have to watch out how to criticize someone.

Turkish business Culture

Business Culture- Differences

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Business Culture- culture map

Mr. Richter works as a sales manager for a large German car manufacturer in Turkey. Through his own fault, one of his employees causes the company's entire computer network to crash. The employee is standing with colleagues when Mr. Richter talks to the employee about this mishap. However, the employee does not get involved in any discussions and denies everything. In the days following this incident, Mr. Richter notices that not only the employee in question but also most of the others withdraw from and avoid him. Mr. Richter cannot understand this behavior at all. After all, it was the employee who made the mistake, not him.

situation:

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Business Culture- critical incident

Business Culture- critical incident

In Turkey, one does not address an individual about a mistake in front of others or criticize them in the presence of others. For Mr. Richter, as a German, it is normal to point out the employee's mistake directly, even if others are present.He is concerned with the factual error and does not think about the honor of his employee. German culture is characterized by a strict separation of the factual and personal levels.Criticizing someone factually is not an attack on their personality. However, the Turk takes the accusation personally and actually suffers a massive loss of face in front of his colleagues as a result of the public criticism. To avert this, he denies his mistake. Since his colleagues feel closelywith him, his colleagues also feel hurt and show solidarity with him. This explanation best explains the situation.

Solution:

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Business Culture- critical incident

Do's and Dont's

Do's and Dont's

In this section, we will take a closer look at some Do's and Dont's in Turkey's culture.

• Plan at least one day to explore Turkish food, sweets and drinks, as this is very important in Turkish culture.

• Show emotion in negotiations or conversations, or people might think you're not interested in the conversation or business.

• Use both hands when handing over a gift or a business card.

• Turks often go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome – for example, by extending invitations to their homes or to show people around their town is very common for new friendships. Invitations should be accepted with gratitude whenever possible.

Do's:

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Do's and don'tS

• Certain gestures and body language have different meanings, varying from rude to insulting and offensive, so they should be avoided.

• Avoid criticizing the country itself as Turks have a strong sense of national pride.

• The same goes for criticizing Atatürk.

• Do not put any pressure on Turks while working with them, like imposing a deadline.

• Do not refer to Turks as Arabs or presume that they speak Arabic. Turkish culture is very distinguishable from Arab culture, and some can find it frustrating or even offensive when both cultures are used interchangeably.

Don'ts:

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Do's and don'tS

This is the end of our learning module. We hope that you learned something about Turkey and its interesting culture!

hoş çakal!

Istanbul

• Formerly known as Constantinople.
• Largest and most important city in Turkey in terms of diversity, historical sites and economic influence.
• Bridge between Europe and Asia.
• Landmarks:
• Hagia Sophia
• Blue Mosque
• Topkapi Palace
• Grand Bazaar

Inflation in Turkey

The Turkish Lira lost around 77% of its value in the last 5 years and the country is battling with an increasing inflation rate.One of the main reasons for this is President Erdoğan's unorthodox low interest rate policy. He believes that high interest rates increase borrowing costs, restrict lending, and deter investment whereas lowering interest rates can stimulate economic activity, encourage borrowing, and lead to higher investment levels to spur economic growth.Turkey actually experienced massive economic growth in the last two decades. However, the cost of living boomed simultaneously in the recent years.

Cumhuriyet Bayramı

• Republic Day is the most important national holiday in Turkey and commemorates the founding of the Republic in 1923.
• In the Turkish War of Liberation (1919 - 1923), the country won its independence under the leadership of Atatürk. Subsequently, the latter declared October 29th as the most important Turkish holiday. In the course of this, the capital of Turkey was also moved from Istanbul to Ankara.

Çatalhöyük

• Dates roughly 9000 years back into the Neolithic period.
• Ancient city with well preserved examples of prehistoric settlement and early agricultural/ livestock practices.
• Consisting of interconnected houses forming a labyrinthine settlement while the roofs were used as streets.
• Early use of mural art and death rituals.

Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı

• This day serves to commemorate the opening of the National Assembly and sovereignty of the foundations of the Republic. Also, April 23rd is Children's Day in Turkey.
• On April 23rd, 1920, the Great National Assembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi), i.e. the Parliament, was opened in Ankara by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk was elected president of the parliament by the deputies. This date now stands for the proclamation of the sovereignty of the Turkish people.

Justice and Development Party

• Also known as AKP and was founded in 2001.
• On the conservative, centre-right spectrum.
• Emphasizes Islamic values, economic development and social welfare programs.
• Is the ruling party in Turkey since 2002 and has implemented significant political and economic reforms while also facing criticism for eroding secularism and democratic backsliding.
• Prominent key figure: R.T. Erdoğan

Quick Overview

• The Marmara region is the flattest region.
• The Black Sea region is renowned for its high levels of rainfall and extensive forest cover.
• The Aegean region is known for its fertile land.
• The Mediterranean region is famous for its warm climate.
• The Anatolian region is divided into three sub-regions:
• Central Anatolia: The harvest belt.
• Eastern Anatolia: The coldest climate.
• Southeastern Anatolia: The driest climate.

Grand National Assembly

• Is a unicameral parliament (like in Germany) consisting of 600 seats.
• Tasks:
• Decides and passes laws.
• Debates and adopts the budget.
• Has the right to declare war.
• Has the power to impeach the president.

• If the president decides to dissolve the parliament then both the president as well as the parliament have to be reelected.

Adana

• Is the fifth largest city.
• Lies in the centre of Cilicia which is a fertile and important agricultural area.
• Known for its agriculture and industrial manufacturing.
• Landmarks:
• Stone bridge from the Roman era
• Cuisine (renowned for its Kebab)

• The Arabian, African and Eurasian plates converge in Turkey and create the Anatolian plate. (Click on the map to reveal the plates)
• This shaped Turkey into a mainly mountainous region with lots of geothermal activity and also occasional earthquakes which can become extremely dangerous and devastating e.g. in Izmit (1999) and in the Southeast region in 2023.
• The main mountains are the Pontic, Taurus and Aras mountains. The highest peak in these regions is Mount Ararat, also known as Ağrı Dağı, with an elevation of 5,165 metres.

Yılbaşı

• Celebration of the first day of the year.
• The New Year celebrations are usually held in the big cities, such as Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa and Antalya. The decorations are similar to Christmas decorations.

Mersin

• Is the tenth largest city and formerly known as Mersina or Icel.
• A major port city on the Mediterranean coast.
• Connected to Cyprus by ferry.
• Landmarks:
• Located near the Taurus mountains
• Ancient city of Tarsus, birthplace of St. Pauli

Izmir

• Formerly known as Smyrna.
• Is the third largest city and lies on the Aegean coast.
• Renowned for its lay-back and mercantile atmosphere and popular location for festivals.
• Landmarks:
• Ancient ruins like Ephesus
• Promenades along the coast

Byzantine Empire

• Around 395 AD, the Roman Empire split into two empires.
• The Eastern Roman Empire included the Anatolian peninsula and Byzantium was renamed Constantinople.
• Gradually lost control over Central and Western Anatolia due to the Seljuk Turks.

Diyarbakır

• Is the ninth largest city and formerly known as Amidi.
• It lies on the right bank of the Tigris river.
• Famous for its gold and silver filigree work, copper occurrence and well preserved city walls.
• Predominantly Kurdish populated and heavily influenced by Kurdish culture.
• Landmarks:
• Diyarbakır Fortress
• Hevsel Gardens

Emek ve Dayanisma Günü

• As in Germany, May 1st is Labor Day in Turkey and is a public holiday. On this day, all stores remain closed. However, some stores may be open in tourist areas.

The most prominent example is the economic dispute between President Sezer and Prime minister Ecevit in 2001, furthering the economic crisis.

From parliamentary to presidential democracy

The main reason for this change was the dynamic between the prime minister and the president. Both duties had executive powers e.g. promoting and prompting constitutional changes simultaneously, thus creating a political deadlock if both persons had discrepant views.

Seljuk Empire

• A Central Asian Turkic dynasty located in Persia and led by their sultans.
• Expanded into the Anatolian region during the tenth century AD.
• Heavy blending of Turkic, Persian and Islamic culture.
• Weakened in the thirteenth century due to internal conflicts and external pressure.
• Split into small Turkic principalities ("Beyliks") after Mongol invasion and collapse.

Good Party

• Also known as the IYI party and was founded in 2017.
• Splitted from the MHP and also positions itself as an alternative to the MHP and the ruling AKP.
• Is a centre-right political party while emphasizing liberal democracy, social market economy and European integration.
• Prominent key figure: Meral Akşener

Konya

• Is the seventh largest city and formerly known as Iconium.
• One of the oldest urban centres of the world with great historical and religious significance (Spiritual heart of Turkey).
• Homeland of the poet and scholar Rumi (Mevlana) and the Sufi brotherhood.
• Landmarks:
• Seljuk architekture (Rumi museum or Alaeddin Mosque)
• Tomb of Rumi

Hellenistic Empire

• The Hellenistic Kingdoms were spreading extensively into Western Anatolia around 334 BC.
• Establishment of Greek speaking cities and cultural centres (e.g. Ephesus, Pergamon and Miletus), customs and practices.
• Huge involvement of Alexander the Great who fought against the Achaemenid Empire .

Zafer Bayramı

• August 30th commemorates the decisive victory of the Turkish Liberation War.
• This holiday serves to commemorate the Turkish victory in the War of Liberation. The significant victory, also known as the Battle of the High Command (Turkish: Başkomutanlık Meydan Muharebesi), is thus celebrated every year on August 30th.

Antalya

• Is the eigth largest city and formerly known as Attalia.
• Lies on the Mediterranean sea coast and therefore a famous tourist location with its beaches, hotels and landscapes.
• Subtropical warm climate is ideal for agriculture of olives, citrus fruits and bananas.
• Landmarks:
• The Roman ampitheatre and city of Perge
• Beaches, outdoor activities and water sports

Death anniversary Atatürk

• On November 10th, 1938, the founder of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk died in Istanbul. The anniversary of his death is called a day of mourning and remembrance. It is commemorated with wreaths and portraits of the founder of the state.
• However, the day is not a public holiday and offices, schools and stores are open as usual.

Nationalist Movement Party

• Was founded in 1965 and is also known as MHP.
• It is a far-right and nationalist party, although their stance has become slightly more moderate in recent years.
• Promotes conservatism and strong state authority and emphasizes the integrity of the Turkish nation.
• Has been in coalition with the AKP since 2015.
• Prominent key figure: Devlet Bahçeli

Atatürk’ü Anma, Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı

• Commemoration of Atatürk's arrival in Samsun and the beginning of the War of Liberation.
• This holiday commemorates May 19th, 1919 - the war of independence in Samsun, which began under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
• It was Atatürk's wish to dedicate May 19th to youth and sports. The day has been celebrated as a public holiday since 1938.

Turkish elections

• Turkish voters can vote on these occasions:
• President and parliament (national)
• Municipality and district majors (local)
• Provincial members and muhtars (local)
• Referendums (Constitutional amendments)
• The presidential and parliamentary elections take place on the same day with a 5 year term each.
• Parliament members are chosen by proportional representation.
• President is elected through absolute majority.
• There is usually high voting engagement (Avg 85%).

Gaziantep

• Is the sixth largest city and also known as Antep.
• Has a well preserved traditional architecture.
• Heart of the Turkish cuisine with main focus on Kebab and Baklava.
• Also known for its bustling bazaars (local craft, spices and textiles).
• Affected by the 2023 earthquake.
• Landmarks:
• Gaziantep Castle
• Copperware museum

Council of Ministers

• Consists of the president and who appoints the ministers.
• Tasks:
• Head of the state and the Council of ministers.
• Commander in chief of the military.
• Can veto legislative bills before offical adoption if there is clash with the constitution.
• Can issue presidential decrees.
• Serves a maximum of two terms.
• Ministers of the cabinet administer and propel laws and policies.

The candidates

• Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu moved on to the second round due to having the most votes.
• Muharrem İnce withdrew from the presidential race prior to the elections.
• Sinan Oğan endorsed Erdoğan for the second round.

Ankara

• Formerly known as Angora.
• Is the capital and second largest city.
• Cosmopolitan and administrative centre of Turkey (government buildings e.g. Presidential Complex).
• Huge industrial influence due to manufacturing sector besides Istanbul.
• Landmarks:
• Remains of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman buildings
• Atatürk Mausoleum Complex

Gaziler Günü

• National holiday of war veterans and heroes.
• On September 19th, those war heroes and veterans who fought and died in the war are commemorated. However, this day is not a public holiday in Turkey.

Achaemenid Empire

• Started around 546 BC.
• Political domination of Anatolia by the Persians.
• Partition of the region into administrative divisions with a governor in each division.
• Aramaic was the official language in these areas.
• Existed simultaneously with the Hellenistic Empire.

Courts

• Judiciary is mainly divided into four supreme courts:
• Constitutional court which is decided by the president and the parliament
• Court of cassation
• Council of state
• Court of jurisdictional disputes
• The judiciary and its decisions are independent from the executive and legislative.

Bronze Age

• Emergence and thrive of several civilizations leading to fortified cities and monumental architecture, development of agriculture and irrigation systems.
• Era is marked by the growth of international trade networks.
• Hitites:
• Established the Hitite Empire.
• Ruled over large part of Anatolia.
• Hattusa was the capital.
• Luwians:
• Inhabited Western Anatolia.
• Developed writing systems.

People's Democratic Party

• Also known as the YSP/HPD and was founded in 2012.
• Is a union of left wing political organizations and aims to represent the interests of minority groups, such as the Kurdish people.
• It also emphasizes democratic reforms and gender equality.
• Prominent key figure: S. Demirtaş

Immigration policies

Turkey has historically been a significant destination and transit country for refugees and migrants due to its geographic location.The country has adopted an open-door policy towards those seeking refuge with most of the immigrants coming from countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and even from the Sub-Saharan region.

However, tensions between the Turkish population and immigrants has risen in the recent years due to major cultural and linguistic differences. Economic and administrative issues have also contributed heavily to the anti-refugee sentiment.

Bursa

• Formerly known as Prusa.
• Is the fourth largest city an the first capital of the Ottoman Empire.
• Renowned for silk production and spice trade.
• Landmarks:
• Great and Grand Mosque
• Thermal baths and hot springs

Roman Empire

• The whole peninsula came under Roman rule during the first century AD.
• Anatolia was divided into 24 provinces and modern-day Istanbul became the capital "Byzantium."
• Introduction of Christianity into the region and also new aspects of life like architecture, language and legal systems.

Republican People's Party

• Is the oldest political party and was founded by Atatürk in 1923.
• Social democratic party and emphasizes Kemalist values of republicanism and secularism.
• Dominated the political space until the 1950s.
• Has been the main opposition and advocates for a strong parliamentary system and a welfare state.
• Prominent key figure: K. Kılıçdaroğlu

Phrygian Empire

• Phrygians lived in Western Turkey around 1180 BC.
• Are known for being skilled artisans especially in metalwork and pottery.
• Famous legend of King Midas who had the ability to turn everything he touched to gold.
• Fell unter Persian control in the sixth century BC.