The 1982 Constitution of Turkey, a product of the 1980 de facto regime, is still one of the most controversial issues in Turkey’s political atmosphere. This chronicle examines the constitutional reform process following the adoption of the 1982 Constitution, amended sixteen times so far, but particularly focuses on the recent initiatives in the 2000s which have been taken and directed by the ruling party, the AKP, including recent attempts to prepare a new constitution, that were reintroduced into the political agenda after the June 2011 general elections. In the author’s view, taking into consideration the politico-juridical and factual realities of the last decade, the purpose of the so-called further constitutional reforms is not to enhance the democratisation of Turkey, as stressed by the ruling party. It rather seems that the final goal may be the consolidation of an oppressive neo-liberal State system.
