Turkey occupies a strategic position in today's world: the only predominantly Muslim nation to be a member of NATO and an ally of Israel, it straddles both Europe and Asia. Turkey is the link between Islam and Western democracy, between Europe and the Middle East. In this concise introduction, the author, who has spent twenty years in Turkey writing about the country for publications such as The Economist and Time magazine, unravels Turkey's complexities. He sets the complications and transformations of present day Turkey against the historical background of the Ottoman Empire, the secular nationalist revolution led by Kemal Ataturk, and repeated political interventions by the military, which sees itself as the guardian of Ataturk's legacy. He reveals a nation full of surprises. Where else but in Turkey, he writes, would secularist liberals have supported a prime minister who was once jailed for promoting religious extremism? From the Kurdish question to economic policy, from Turkey's role in Iraq to its quest for EU membership, the author illuminates the past and present of this unique, and uniquely consequential, country.

Includes maps of: Istanbul and Environs; [Turkey and Vicinity].

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 Atatürk and why is his picture everywhere? ; What is Atatürk's legacy? ; Are there any Atatürk 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?