Changes

Turkey entered [[World War II]] on the Allied side until shortly before the war ended, becoming a charter member of the [[United Nations]]. Difficulties faced by [[Greece]] after World War II in quelling a communist rebellion and demands by the [[Soviet Union]] for military bases in the Turkish Straits prompted the United States to declare the [[Truman Doctrine]] in 1947. The doctrine enunciated American intentions to guarantee the security of Turkey and Greece and resulted in large scale U.S. military and economic aid under the [[Marshall Plan]]. After participating with United Nations forces in the [[Korean War|Korean conflict]], Turkey in 1952 joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO). Turkey is currently a [[European Union]] candidate, although this has been clouded by their refusal to acknowledge the [[Armenian genocide]].

Turkey entered [[World War II]] on the Allied side until shortly before the war ended, becoming a charter member of the [[United Nations]]. Difficulties faced by [[Greece]] after World War II in quelling a communist rebellion and demands by the [[Soviet Union]] for military bases in the Turkish Straits prompted the United States to declare the [[Truman Doctrine]] in 1947. The doctrine enunciated American intentions to guarantee the security of Turkey and Greece and resulted in large scale U.S. military and economic aid under the [[Marshall Plan]]. After participating with United Nations forces in the [[Korean War|Korean conflict]], Turkey in 1952 joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO). Turkey is currently a [[European Union]] candidate, although this has been clouded by their refusal to acknowledge the [[Armenian genocide]].

==People==

==People==

[[File:Ankara panorama Turkey.jpg|thumb|center|700px|The capital Ankara.]]

[[File:Ankara panorama Turkey.jpg|thumb|center|700px|The capital Ankara.]]

==Government and Political Conditions==

==Government and political conditions==

[[File:Turkish Parliament in Ankara.jpg|thumb|300px|The Parliament in Ankara.]]

[[File:Turkish Parliament in Ankara.jpg|thumb|300px|The Parliament in Ankara.]]

The 1982 Constitution, drafted by the military in the wake of a 1980 military coup, proclaims Turkey's system of government as [[democracy|democratic]], [[secular state|secular]], and [[Parliamentary Republic|parliamentary]]. A [[Presidential Government|presidential system]] was adopted with a referendum in 2017; the new system came into effect with the presidential election in 2018 and gives the President complete control of the executive, including the power to issue decrees, appoint his own cabinet, draw up the budget, dissolve parliament by calling early elections, and pack the bureaucracy and the courts with political appointees. The office of Prime Minister has been abolished and its powers (together with those of the Cabinet) have been transferred to the President, who is the head of state and is elected for a five-year term by direct elections. [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] is the first president elected by direct voting. Turkey's constitution governs the legal framework of the country. It sets out the main principles of government and establishes Turkey as a unitary centralized state.

The 1982 Constitution, drafted by the military in the wake of a 1980 military coup, proclaims Turkey's system of government as [[democracy|democratic]], [[secular state|secular]], and [[Parliamentary Republic|parliamentary]]. A [[Presidential Government|presidential system]] was adopted with a referendum in 2017; the new system came into effect with the presidential election in 2018 and gives the President complete control of the executive, including the power to issue decrees, appoint his own cabinet, draw up the budget, dissolve parliament by calling early elections, and pack the bureaucracy and the courts with political appointees. The office of Prime Minister has been abolished and its powers (together with those of the Cabinet) have been transferred to the President, who is the head of state and is elected for a five-year term by direct elections. [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] is the first president elected by direct voting. Turkey's constitution governs the legal framework of the country. It sets out the main principles of government and establishes Turkey as a unitary centralized state.

<ref>http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78844.htm</ref> and the frequency of violent attacks on Christian ministers and priests is still high.<ref>http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20070418-030533-9552</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5139408.stm</ref>  

<ref>http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78844.htm</ref> and the frequency of violent attacks on Christian ministers and priests is still high.<ref>http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20070418-030533-9552</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5139408.stm</ref>  

{{Clear}}

{{Clear}}

===Principal Government Officials===

===Principal government officials===

*President of the Republic — Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

*President of the Republic — Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

*Vice President of the Republic — Fuat Oktay

*Vice President of the Republic — Fuat Oktay

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign relations===

[[File:Turkish girls laughing in calimanesti.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Turkish dancers in a festival in [[Romania]].]]

[[File:Turkish girls laughing in calimanesti.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Turkish dancers in a festival in [[Romania]].]]

Turkey's primary political, economic, and security ties are with the West, although some voices call for a more "Eurasian" orientation.  

Turkey's primary political, economic, and security ties are with the West, although some voices call for a more "Eurasian" orientation.