As its neighbors in the region grapple with their own political transitions, Turkey is undertaking a reform process of its own that will shape the country’s democratic future for years to come. The country is in the midst of developing a new civilian constitution to replace the current version, written in 1982 under the then-ruling military. Please join us for a conversation with Fuat Keyman, director of the Istanbul Policy Center, a leading Turkish think tank associated with Sabancı University, and Dilek Ertükel, NDI’s resident director in Turkey, as they discuss the current constitutional reform process, its implications for Turkey’s democracy and its potential as a model for the region.

Director of the Istanbul Policy Center and Professor of International Relations at Sabancı University Dr. Fuat Keyman, an expert on democratization, global development and international affairs will review the state of democracy in Turkey, using recent public opinion research conducted with NDI, as well as research supported by the Istanbul Policy Center. Together with NDI Resident Country Director for Turkey Dilek Ertükel, he will elaborate on how the constitutional reform process is unfolding and the types of reforms that civic and political groups are recommending. The discussion will explore the potential of this process as a model for other countries undergoing citizen-driven political transitions in the region.

Time: 10:30 a.m. to noon

Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012

Location: National Democratic Institute 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 8th floor Washington, D.C.