A Situation Briefing teleconference on the aftermath of the recent failed military coup in Turkey against the democratically-elected government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

On Friday, July 15, 2016, a faction of the Turkish military launched a coup attempt aimed at removing the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. An attempted military takeover of Turkey is not a new phenomenon - the Turkish military has overthrown four governments since 1960. In the aftermath of the coup's failure, Erdoğan's response has been harsh and unforgiving. The Turkish government declared a state of emergency on July 20, giving Erdoğan - who has widened his crackdown against tens of thousands of members of the judiciary, civil service, and military - near absolute power over the country. His regime suspended the European Convention on Human Rights soon after the emergency powers were granted. 

What were the underlying causes of the attempted military coup? What does Erdoğan's victory mean for the future of democracy in Turkey? 

Featuring:

Dr. Henri Barkey, Director, Middle East Program, The Wilson Center

Dr. Henri J. Barkey is the Director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center. He is the former Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen Professor at Lehigh University. Read more.

Moderator:

Ms. Kasia Bzdak Perdue, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy

Ms. Kasia Bzdak Perdue is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Pacific Council on International Policy, where she oversees day-to-day operations and spearheads national security initiatives. Prior to her current work at the Pacific Council, Kasia served as a Scoville Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, where she focused her research on conventional arms transfers.