Turkey may be cited as a case of successful democratisation in its region. The long democratisation process in the country and the hurdles on the way may be explained by the time required for the evolution of background factors that form the backbone of a democratic system such as limitation and control of state power and the empowerment of the individual, the development of a pluralistic civil society, and of effective channels of political participation and democratic representation, respect for freedom of expression, association and other fundamental human rights and freedoms, and tolerance for alternative views.

The paper aims to give an in-depth analysis of the democratisation process in Turkey and attempts to evaluate the lessons that may be learned from this experience. The paper attempts to examine whether Turkey’s example of a democratic and secular country with a predominantly Muslim population can also be repeated in similar countries of the region. The paper also attempts to place the issue in the context of the EU’s Mediterranean policy and the Euro-Mediterranean process and evaluate the impact that the EU factor may have on the prospects of democracy in the region.