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Some of the policies of Turkish government under PM Erdogan tend to be more conservative and collide with the secular system,
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but it can not be denied that he also brought the restoration of Turkish economic and politics
significantly.
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Turkey is now the worlds 17th largest economy, a G-20 member, and offers access to markets in Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the
Middle East. In term of politics, Turkey also become an influencing country in the region and become a bridge for political relation between Western and Middle
East countries.
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These progresses at least will give a greater opportunity for Turkey to become an official member of the European Union. For more details,
this chapter provides the discussion about the progresses of Turkey which are classified into two: domestic and foreign Economic as well as Politics.
1. Economy
Economy is one of the important instruments for the state to build prosperity and proper life for its people. This is also a tool to elevate the value of
country in the world. The Prime Minister Erdogan with the AKP party have been creating positive impact on the economic development of Turkey. These advances
certainly would give a positive impact as well on the circulation of life in Turkey in the various fields such as security, social and education, as well as domestic
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Umut Uras, “Turkey‟s Coservatives coalesce Under Erdogan”, Aljazeera,[online article] http:www.aljazeera.comindepthfeatures20130620136118845902184.html
, accessed 782014
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Bbc News Online,Profile: Recep tayyip erdogan, 1182014 [database online], available from: http:www.bbc.comnewsworld-europe-13746679
, accessed in 26 july 2014
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Aliye Pekin Çelik and Laura Elizabeth Çelik , “Turkey: Current and Future Political, Economic and Security
Trends ,” Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, June 2011, p: 1 [online journal] downloaded
from: http:www.cdfai.orgPDFTurkey20Current20and20Future20Political,20Economic20and20
Security20Trendsb.pdf , accessed in 4 May 2014
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and international politics. And this economic development led Turkey to be considered as powerful state.
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Since the outset of Erdogan‟s tenure, the Turkish economic growth happened in almost whole sectors.In infrastructure, the Turkeys development was
noted in the 2007 Progress Report of Turkey from EU that the Turkeys progress has been made in air, maritime, and road transport. In the other side the complexes
and shopping malls seem to flank every major city and the 2010 Progress Report noted that
the country‟s highway network has been expanded by more than 10,000 miles.
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In addition, foreign direct investment has also experienced a boost, while it remained below 5 billion USD until 2004, it surged to 20 billion USD in 2007.
There has been an almost ten- fold to increase in the country‟s foreign direct
investment since 2002.
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The other economic progress of Turkey under PM Erdogan leadership are:
1. The Growth of Turkish economy expanded by 9.2 percent in 2010 and 8.8
percent in 2011.
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2. The inflation rate has decreased from 70 to 3.9 by April 2011 and
budget deficit narrowed below 2 and public debt receded below 40 of GDP.
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R. Nicholas Burns. The rise of Turkey as a superpower. Boston Globe, April 27, 2012. Accessed from http:belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edupublication21970rise_of_turkey_as_a_superpower.html
, 8122014
84
Summaries of
EU Legislation,
Turkey-Transport, 30.12.2011,
[online database],
available: http:europa.eulegislation_summariesenlargementongoing_enlargementcommunity_acquis_turkeye13113_en
.htm , accessed at 13 June 2014
85
Aliye Pekin Çelik and Laura Elizabeth Çelik , “Turkey: Current and Future Political, Economic and Security
Trends ,”p: 10
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Investment support and Promotion Agency of Turkey Prime Ministry, Turkey posts 8.8 percent GDP growth in Q2
, 12.09.2011, available from: http:www.invest.gov.tren-USinfocenternewsPages120911-turkey-second-
quarter-2011-gdp-growth-8.8-percent.aspx , accessed in 29 August 2014
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3. Almost 1.4 million new jobs were created and the unemployment rate
from 15 percent decrease to 9 since 2009.
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4. Turkey‟s GDP in the 2011 reached USD 203 billion
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while the GDP per capita has almost tripled from USD 3,037 in 2001 to 10,106 in 2011 as
well.
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5. Turkey‟s general exports have increased from a level of 39,3 billion dollars
in 2003 to 152,6 billion dollars in 2012, whereas Turkey‟s general imports
have increased from a 55,6 billion dollars in 2003 to 236,5 billion dollars in 2012,
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6. The high investment of particular sector in the period between 2001-2008
raised 300, while the investment of government sector achieved 100.
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In addition to the growth of domestic economy, Turkey has also been expanding his international market by improving the trade quantity with the other
nations . Turkey‟s volume of bilateral trade with Middle East countries gained
considerable momentum and reached 65 billion dollars by the end of 2012 reflecting a sevenfold increase compared to the year 2003.
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And its bilateral trade with EU, around half of Turkey‟s merchandise exports in 2011 went to Europe
excluding Russia. There has been a notable increase in trade with the Middle
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Daniel Dombey, Six market to watch: Turkey, How Erdogan Did It - and Could Blow It, Foreign Affairs. N.p., [online article] available from:
http:www.foreignaffairs.comarticles140338daniel-dombeysix-markets- to-watch-turkey, accessed at 2982014
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Investment support and Promotion Agency of Turkey Prime Ministry “Turkey posts 8.8 percent GDP growth in Q2
”
89
Aliye Pekin Çelik and Laura Elizabeth Çelik, Turkey: Current and Future Political, Economic and Security Trends
, p: 8
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Economy, Middle East regional Information, Last updated: July,2011 http:www.economy.gov.trindex.cfm?sayfa=countriesandregionsregion=4
91
Syarif Taghian, Erdogan-Muadzin Istanbul Penakluk Sekularisme Turki, Pustaka Alkautsar, jakarta, 2012, p: 72
92Republic of Turkey-Ministry of Economy, Middle East Regional Information, July 2013. [online database] available from:
http:www.economy.gov.trindex.cfm?sayfa=countriesandregionsregion=4 , 582014
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East, North Africa, and Central Asia over the last decade.
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These figures show that Turkey‟s foreign trade under the administration of Erdogan and AKP Party
have been growing very fast and say that Turkeys market is compatible.
2. Politics
