Turkey’s Referendum: The Dangerous Road to “Yes”

Turkey has a checkered history with democracy. Since adopting a multiparty parliamentary system, the country has suffered periodic military coups – including a failed putsch last July – designed to reassert the control of traditionalist military and political elites. Now, Turkey faces a new attempt to consolidate power, but not one orchestrated by a military cabal.

On April 16, the Turkish people will vote in a proposed constitutional referendum that could completely transform the country’s governing system. The referendum’s amendments propose to move Turkey from a parliamentary system to a new executive-led government, which would concentrate power in the person of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.