ABSTRACT
The year under review saw important developments in Turkey, but also left vexatious problems unresolved. There were signs that the restrictive political system inherited from military regime of 1980-83 was gradually becoming both more liberal and more stable. Constitutionally, Turkey is a secular state a unique distinction in the middle east. The "Islamic" protests provoked mixed reactions from the political parties and other institutions. The Higher Education Council, which had been set up by the previous military regime, banned the headscarf wearers from class. The government's handling of economy proved to be the most important issue in the election campaign. A notable and reassuring feature of the campaign was the minimal amount of public violence, despite the fierce arguments provoked by the issues. The main trends in the Turkish economy during 1987 have: a strong rate of economic growth; an impressive rise in foreign trade; and a high and generally rising rate of inflation.
