An accessible introduction to the processes which shape politics and economics in contemporary Turkey.

Ye¿im Arat is Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Böaziçi Üniversitesi, Istanbul. She is the author of The Patriarchal Paradox: Women Politicians in Turkey (1989), Rethinking Islam and Liberal Democracy: Islamist Women in Turkish Politics (2005), Violence against Women in Turkey (2007, with Ay¿e Gül Alt¿nay, the Turkish version received the 2008 Pen Duygu Asena Award) and numerous articles on women and also Turkish politics. She served as a board member in various academic journals and also in UNRISD. She is a member of the Science Academy, Turkey.

1. Introduction; 2. A long wave of urbanization; 3. From military rule to civilian politics; 4. Islamists in power; 5. Uneven economic development and domestic politics; 6. The Kurdish Revolt: nationalism and ethnicity; 7. Between Europe and the Middle East; 8. Women's call for democracy; 9. Conclusion.