"A rising liberalisation of the public discourse in Turkey has been unexpected, not least since it has been facilitated by an apparent regime change from authoritarian to liberal, and accompanied as it has been by a period of government by a religiously- rooted political party. Such a development seems to be highly affirmative for the establishment of a truly democratic regime. Even so, discursive liberalism, in the context of considerations of a new constitutional framework and settlement for Turkey, is likely to remain rhetorical unless it can be accompanied by constitutional guarantees, yet these remain some way away. The authors discuss the philosophical issues implicit in this shift, following Leo Strauss's critique of modernity, arguing that equal liberties – of politics, ethnicity or group rights, gender and belief – are likely to provide a key test of the extent to which the discourse has become politically liberal. The opportunity is there in which a truly democratic public sphere may be created, but the future of Turkey in this regard remains ambivalent rather than guaranteed.of Turkey in this regard remains ambivalent rather than guaranteed. "

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