Respect for human rights and freedom of expression have received serious blows as figures released by various organizations have shown an increase in cases of torture, which culminated in the recent death of Engin Çeber, as a result of being brutally tortured by the police. The amendments that were made to Turkey's infamous Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which makes it a crime both to insult Turkishness and also to insult the state's civilian and security organizations, have not played a serious role in deterring the state from penalizing those who criticize its practices.
The step back from major military and civilian reforms after the historical reforms made in 2003 and 2004 has played a significant role in further polarization of the Turkish political system, which has been fragile since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
Setbacks in democratic reforms have also strengthened the existing dual-power governance of the nation, i.e., the military-led staunchly secular establishment on the one hand and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as political leaders on the other.
However, it is also fair to say that Pandora's box was already opened in Turkey after earlier military and civilian reforms were launched when Turkey was accepted as a candidate country during the EU's Helsinki Summit in 1999.
Those numerous taboos, from the military's role in politics and the Kurdish problem to Cyprus and relations with Armenia, all swept under the carpet for decades, have been opened up to debate in Turkey.
Therefore, it wouldn't be incorrect if we were to predict that, despite all the negative trends that we have witnessed in the past years in the improvement of democratic standards, Turkey has begun walking down an irreversible path where the public's demand for more rights will increase, not decrease.
These demands will include the creation of a better environment for commerce and less discrimination against Alevis and Sunnis as well as against Turks and Kurds, while the support of the basic rights of Christian minorities will continue to press political authorities to come up with answers. Turkey will also be compelled to finally address its deepening division between secularists and conservatives, which is a yawning wound in the structure of Turkish society.
From the viewpoint of instilling respect for the rule of law, the most significant event of the year has perhaps been the initiation of legal proceedings against the former generals and civilians currently on trial for allegedly masterminding and being involved in the Ergenekon terror organization.
The Ergenekon organization is accused of undermining the political system through its illegal activities, including the use of state resources and financing to reach that goal.
It is hard to predict at the moment whether the court hearings will culminate with their punishment, so that justice will be done. But even the initiation of legal proceedings against those alleged to -- among other things -- have planned to incite an armed uprising to topple the government has come as a relief for those Turks who believe in the supremacy of the rule of law.
After almost two years of a rather public and stressful relationship between the politically powerful Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), current Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ appears to have engaged in a less tense working relationship with the ruling government.
But this relationship was further improved when the government struck a compromise deal with the TSK at the expense of democracy.
The government's recent rapprochement with Iraqi Kurds, in particular, became possible when the TSK, under Gen. Başbuğ, did not stand in the way of this process. But, it can be seen that the government's shift from a policy which furthers Kurdish rights in the Southeast of Turkey to one which has been hijacked by nationalistic fervor has been influenced by Gen. Başbuğ to a certain extent.
Turkey will continue its struggle to find a way in the coming decades. This struggle, I hope, will move Turkey toward a better future where all of its institutions will strive to reap the benefits of democracy.
But turbulent years are ahead of Turkey until that happens.
