2008 Assessment

This peer-reviewed country report includes:

Integrity Indicators Scorecard: Scores, scoring criteria, commentary, references, and peer review perspectives for more than 300 Integrity Indicators.

Reporter's Notebook: An on-the-ground look at corruption and integrity from a leading local journalist.

Corruption Timeline: Ten years of political context to today's corruption and integrity issues.

Country Facts: Statistical context for each country.

Turkey has low levels of government transparency and accountability. The public cannot access government officials' asset disclosure forms and sensitive judicial decisions are at times carried out on a selective basis: "The government especially does not apply the decisions of the Council of State (the high administrative court) in relation to privatization, land planning, and restitution…." Since the most recent elections, there has been more "indirect" pressure on media outlets to identify as either for or against the ruling party, changing the character of the national press to be "a means of personal assault, conviction and favoritism." Voter participation is high, which may be a result of a unique election law that allows the district election board to fine citizens for not voting. A culture of whistle-blowing does not exist in Turkey and the national ombudsman was forced to halt its activity following a court ruling.