Resurgence of the Cold War state of mind: the debate on constitutional tolerance of socialism vis-à-vis the emerging left in Turkey (1967–1971)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Turkey witnessed the unprecedented awakening of leftist politics after acceptance of the 1961 Constitution. The Constitution’s provisions on subjects like freedom of thought and social and economic rights enabled the existence of leftist politics in the political arena and prepared the grounds for the policies they would advocate. However, since the US-Soviet rivalry polarised the Middle East, President Sunay’s 1967 statement indicating that the Constitution was closed to socialism, despite prominent jurists’ counterclaims, coupled with some high-ranking commanders’ anti-leftist outburst demonstrated a resurgence of the Cold War state of mind in Turkey.