Politics In The Third Turkish Republic

This volume examines the process of democratization in Turkey after 1980 in light of the shifting balance between the emphasis on prudent political leadership and on political participation that has characterized Turkish politics for decades. Contributors focus on the withdrawal of the military from politics, the role of the political and civil elites in the consolidation of democracy, liberalization and privatization of the economy, the emergence of Islam as a secular religion, and international influences on the democratization process. The consolidation of democracy depends upon striking a balance between political participation and prudent political leadership. During the Ottoman-Turkish period, state elites in Turkey emphasized political leadership; following the transition to democracy in the mid-1940s, the situation was reversed and the stress was on political participation. As a result, for decades Turkish politics has suffered from an imbalance between the two extremes.This volume examines the process of democratization in Turkey after 1980 in light of these disproportions.
Early chapters offer an overview of Turkish democracy from a comparative and historical perspective and outline the theoretical underpinnings of the book. Subsequent chapters focus on the withdrawal of the military from politics, the role of political and civil elites in the consolidation of democracy, liberalization and privatization of the economy, the emergence of Islam as a secular religion, and international influences on the democratization process. A final chapter analyzes the interplay of political leadership and participation in Turkish politics today.