Strong State and Plural Society in Turkey

The author emphasizes the strong state tradition and pluralistic society in Turkey, which has tried to change society from top to down but has paved the way for different social movements to come into existence. These movements emphasize social diversity, pluralism, participation, limited authority, freedom, and human rights, transforming the ideological public sphere into a plural and civil public domain.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

The author delves into the rich tapestry of Turkey's historical and social landscape, highlighting the prevalence of both a strong state tradition and a pluralistic society. He argues that the Turkish state tradition envisions centralization, social cohesion, and an obedient political culture. Over the course of the past century, the nation has embarked on a modernization journey, seeking to transform society from the top down and establish an ideological and unitarian public sphere. However, the transition to a multi-party system in 1950 and the subsequent liberalization policies that followed in the post-1980s have created a fertile ground for diverse social movements to emerge within the same public arena. These movements, particularly among Kurds, Alevis, and women, emphasize social diversity, pluralism, participation, limited authority, freedom, and human rights. By advocating for these values, they have paved the way for the transformation of the ideological public sphere into a plural and civil public domain.

The author traces the evolution of these developments from the Ottoman Empire to the final decades of the Republican Turkey, providing a comprehensive account of the changing social and political landscape. By examining the case of Turkey, the author makes a significant contribution to the literature on a wide range of topics, including civil society, public sphere, modernization, democracy, and social movements.

In conclusion, the author's analysis sheds light on the complex interplay between state tradition, pluralistic society, and social movements in shaping Turkey's historical and contemporary trajectory. Through its examination of the case of Turkey, the book offers valuable insights into the dynamics of civil society, public sphere, modernization, democracy, and social movements, contributing to our understanding of these critical issues in global politics.

Weight: 499g
Dimension: 228 x 164 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793648044