Turkey : what everyone needs to know / Andrew Finkel.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction. Why this book? ; What is a Turk? ; What sort of language is Turkish? ; What are the regions of Turkey? -- Historical background. Who were the Ottomans and what is their relation to modern Turkey? ; What was the genesis of modern Turkey? ; Who was Atatèurk and why is his picture everywhere? ; What is Atatèurk's legacy? ; Are there any Atatèurk jokes (and, if so, does anyone laugh at them)? ; Where does Turkey fit into world history? ; How seriously does Turkey take its obligation to preserve the past? -- Economy. What is Turkey's economic potential-- ? ; --And Turkey's economic weaknesses? ; If Turkey is an emerging market, what has it emerged from? ; What is the GAP and why is it so controversial? ; How important is agriculture to the Turkish economy? ; What are the differences between Istanbul and Ankara? -- Turkey in the world. Where does Turkey fit into the world? ; How did Turkey respond to the end of the Cold War? ; What changes has the AK Party made? ; How strong is the U.S.-Turkish alliance? ; What is Turkey's relationship with Israel and what are its effects? ; What are Turkey's relations with the European Union? ; Is Turkey really European enough to be a member of the EU? ; Will Turkey successfully conclude negotiations (and what about Cyprus)? -- Politics...and the military. What sort of political system does Turkey have? ; Are Turkish political parties deeply ideological? ; What are the major forces in Turkish politics? ; How active is the Turkish press? ; What is the role of the military in Turkey? ; Could there be another military coup? ; What is the Ergenekon Conspiracy? ; What sort of constitution does Turkey have? -- Society and religion. What role does Islam play in Turkish public life? ; Is Turkey in danger of becoming a fundamentalist state? ; Who are the Kurds? ; Where do Kurds fit into Turkish society? ; What lies at the heart of Turkey's Kurdish problem? ; Is there a Kurdish solution? ; What is the status of women in Turkey? ; Why are headscarves such a sensitive issue? ; What status do lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people enjoy in Turkey? ; Why doesn't Turkey concede there was an Armenian genocide in 1915? ; Wasn't there another tragedy in 1915? ; What are the implications of genocide resolutions? -- Conclusion. What sort of future does Turkey face?