Democratic Consolidation In Turkey Research Articles

The AKP, religion, and political values in contemporary Turkey: implications for the future of democracy

ABSTRACT The Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002 with the promise of reforms to further democratic consolidation in Turkey. At that time, the AKP represented a rainbow coalition of individuals from the previous Islamist parties and many liberal democrats who were fed up with the failures of old secular political parties. The Turkish public shared their frustrations and overwhelmingly supported the AKP. Unfortunately, these reforms did not last. Today, it is indisputable that under the rule of the AKP, and more specifically, President Recep T. Erdoğan, Turkey has become an authoritarian state defined and shaped by one person. This article explores what these developments mean for the future of Turkish democracy as the country celebrates its centenary, and it includes an examination of whether Turkish political culture is supportive of such changes.

Gender impartiality of public institutions, religiosity, and satisfaction with democracy: findings from Turkey

ABSTRACT Previous literature demonstrated that gender inequality is a major challenge for democratic consolidation. However, research that studies the effect of gender inequality on citizens’ satisfaction with democracy is limited. This study contributes to this literature by exploring the relationship between citizens’ perceptions of gender impartiality of public institutions and satisfaction with democracy in Turkey, where gender inequality is an acute problem. Analysis of a nationally representative survey showed that the perception of gender impartiality of public institutions is a major factor explaining citizens’ satisfaction with democracy. Results also revealed that perceptions of gender impartiality of public institutions affect citizens’ evaluations of the long-term performance of democracy. Another finding is that religiosity moderates the effect of perceptions of gender impartiality of public institutions on citizens’ satisfaction with democracy. We conclude that gender inequality is not a peripheral issue to democratic consolidation in Turkey but a social problem that remains at the heart of it.

The Development of Democratic Consolidation in Turkey Since 2000s

The Development of Democratic Consolidation in Turkey Since 2000s

BOOK REVIEW: DEMOCRACY IN TURKEY: The Impact of EU Political Conditionality

and democratic consolidation. In the first chapter, he notes the historical background of civil society in Turkey. However, the third and the fourth chapters lack knowledge on historical background. Usul’s statement on p. 141 is an example in this regard: “Turkish democracy, from the beginning, has been a story of a series of political crisis which have constantly hindered democratic consolidation in Turkey”. However, these crises are hardly mentioned. Coups d’état are touched upon briefly; but readers might like to be informed about fluctuations of Turkish democracy more elaborately. Similarly, on p. 25, he refers to Putnam’s and Gourevitch’s arguments on democratization, but he does not establish the link between these arguments and the case of Turkey. It might have added more insight to the study if he could establish that link

Critical Junctures, Catalysts, and Democratic Consolidation in Turkey

Political Science QuarterlyVolume 129, Issue 2 p. 293-318 Article Critical Junctures, Catalysts, and Democratic Consolidation in Turkey Ramazan Kilinç, Ramazan KilinçSearch for more papers by this author Ramazan Kilinç, Ramazan KilinçSearch for more papers by this author First published: 26 June 2014 https://doi.org/10.1002/polq.12180Citations: 9Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume129, Issue2Summer 2014Pages 293-318 RelatedInformation

Public Opinion and Attitude toward the Military and Democratic Consolidation in Turkey

The political influence of the Turkish military has substantially declined in the last decade, triggered by the European Union’s decision during the Helsinki Summit in 1999 to grant candidacy status to Turkey. This study illuminates Turkey’s democratization process in the post-Helsinki period by empirically analyzing a relatively underinvestigated aspect of civil–military relations: public opinion and attitude toward the military and civil–military issues. Empirical analyses, based on original and comprehensive public opinion data, indicate that despite impressive reforms and improvements in the legal and institutional structures in Turkish civil–military relations in the past ten years, democratic transformation in the political culture has been lagging behind. This gap is likely to complicate democratization process in Turkey. The article also provides a discussion of broader theoretical and practical implications of empirical findings.

The Kurdish problem, print media, and democratic consolidation in Turkey

This study investigated the link between press and democratic consolidation in Turkey. It was assumed that plural structures in the sense of diversity of the news, approaches, responses, and ideological positions would be contributive to democratic consolidation. Accordingly, this article searched the patterns of diversity and plurality among the print media news between the years of 1984 and 2008. The article proved that the Turkish press responded in a plural manner to the selected case.

New democrats: religious actors, social change and democratic consolidation in Turkey

I analyze the positive and leading role religious actors play in democratic consolidation in Turkey in recent years. I argue that major social changes might lead to such outcomes. Empirically, I show that two major religious actors in Turkey—the Gulen Movement and the Justice and Development Party (AKP)—have adopted favorable positions on EU membership, ethnic and religious minorities, and pluralism in the last decade. This remarkable transformation owes its existence to the economic liberalization reforms initiated in the early 1980s, and the “post-modern coup” of 1997. This transformation reflects the need of both religious actors for greater democracy from a purely self-interested perspective. The Gulen Movement prefers an open and democratic system to sustain its organizational existence. The AKP responds to the preferences of its own constituency. These unique conditions have made two religious actors catalysts of democratization along with some liberal democrats in Turkey. Empirically, I rely on European Union’s Turkey progress reports and a recent analysis of religious Turkish media to support the argument.

No Crisis, No Change: The Third AKP Victory in the June 2011 Parliamentary Elections in Turkey

Amidst debates over a new constitution and increasing tensions over the Kurdish issue, the June 2011 parliamentary elections were considered crucial for the fate of democratic consolidation in Turkey. The article first discusses the background of the general elections, providing an account of the main political developments since the July 2007 general elections. After a discussion of the election campaign, the results of the parliamentary elections are presented. The article concludes by discussing the implications of the election results for democratic consolidation in Turkey under the Justice and Development Party's (AKP's) third term of single-party rule.

Turkey Under the AKP: Civil-Military Relations Transformed

Abstract: Recent years have seen a transformation in Turkish civil-military relations—away from the traditional picture of weak elected officials overseen by a strong military, to one of a strengthened civilian government and a military with decreased influence. This article explores the questions of how this transformation has occurred, whether it will last, and what it indicates about prospects for democratic consolidation in Turkey. It includes suggestions for ensuring the institutionalization of these changes, and discusses possible stumbling blocks to further advancement.

Conservative Globalism at the Crossroads: The Justice and Development Party and the Thorny Path to Democratic Consolidation in Turkey

The article builds on the premise that the standard left–right division is not a meaningful characterization of Turkish politics. Political competition in Turkey in the present era is increasingly characterized by a contest between ‘conservative globalists’ and ‘defensive nationalists’ and the political environment is marked by the conspicuous absence of a European-style left-of-centre social democratic party. The article investigates the kinds of influences that enabled the Justice and Development Party to enlarge its electoral coalition in 2007 suggesting an even bigger swing of the pendulum towards conservative globalists compared to the situation in the previous election of 2002. It also tries to highlight the inherent weaknesses of conservative globalism and points towards the absence of effective and constructive opposition as a means of explaining the recent instability and re-polarization in Turkish politics which constitutes a major obstacle on the path to democratic consolidation

Understanding the Role of Civil Society as an Agent for Democratic Consolidation: The Turkish Case

This study is an analysis of the contribution of civil society to democratic consolidation in Turkey. It will try to understand this problem by assessing civil society’s formal structure, legal framework, and internal values, as well as its impact during the consolidation process. While doing so, this study will base itself on a combination of theories that link civil society to democratic consolidation with an empirical tool for the assessment of this linkage. It confirms that despite the difficulties, civil society in Turkey is developing itself for the establishment of a more decentralized pluralistic democracy, which will stipulate a more institutionalized democratic system.

Turkey at the Polls: A New Path Emerges

Abstract: Turkey's economic and political system has been confronted with major challenges during the course of the 1990s. These challenges originating from economic crises, state-centric model of development, European integration and the problems of democratization have brought Turkey to crossroads. In this context, the November 3rd national election was of utmost importance in the determination of Turkey's future course of democratization. The AKP has won the election and formed a single majority government. In the present article, we try to provide a sociological and political economy-based analysis of the election and the origins of the AKP's unprecedented success. We have attempted to highlight the possible domestic and foreign policy-oriented challenges confronted by the AKP. In doing so, we have argued that the possibility of democratic consolidation in Turkey lies in the success of the AKP to cope effectively with these challenges.