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Program Type: 
Thesis
Course Code: 
POLS 613
Semester: 
Autumn
Course Type: 
Core
P: 
3
Lab: 
0
Credits: 
3
ECTS: 
25
Course Language: 
English
Course Objectives: 

This course gives an historical overview of events in Turkish politics since the declaration of the Second Constitutional Monarchy in 1908. Various views on the birth of the Republic, the establishment of the mono-party rule, transition to multi-party politics, the 1960 military intervention, the radicalization of politics after 1960, the 1980 military intervention and the decade of Özal will be studied. Students are expected to concentrate on a particular period or a theme within the field and write a well-grounded research project.

Course Content: 

The seminar is organized around a variety of topics that will be discussed each week. Beginning with the search for identity, we shall move onto a discussion of topics/principles that laid the ideological, political, social, and economic foundations of the Republic. These principles were contested by factions within the single party, and were then contested by political parties in the multi-party period after 1945. The contest to interpret these ideas continues to the present day.

Teaching Methods: 
1: Lecture, 2: Discussion based lecture, 3: Case study, 4:Small group work, 5: Seminar, 6: Group work, 7: Research paper, 8: Oral presentation/exam, 9: Survey, 10: Panel, 11: Guest speaker, 12: Activities within a Student Body or Research Project.
Assessment Methods: 
A: Exam, B: Homework, C: Presentation, D: Discussion

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes Program

Learning Outcomes

Teaching Methods Assessment Methods
Demonstrate an understanding of the central themes of nation-building, political Islam, political parties, voting behavior, rise of bourgeoisie, civil-military relations, civil society, and impact of globalization in Turkish politics. 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 A, B, D
Discuss the rise of major debates and traditions in the study of Turkish politics. 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 A, B, D
Gather qualitative or quantitative data and interpret them within the frame of a research paper. 5, 6 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 A, B, D
Apply models and techniques of political and social sciences with an interdisciplinary perspective to explain major issues of Turkey’s politics. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 A, B, D
Conduct an extensive literature review of primary and secondary sources in Turkish and English. 3, 6, 8, 10 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 A, B, D
Compare issues in Turkish politics and history with that of other systems and societies. 4, 13, 14 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 A, B, D

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT
Week Topics Study Materials
1 Introduction  
2 Construction of Turkish Nation and Identity Lewis, Bernard (1968) ‘The Sources of Turkish Civilization’ in The Emergence of Modern Turkey (2nd ed.) (New York: Oxford University Press), 1-17.

Ahmad, Feroz (1993) ‘From Empire to Nation 1908-1923’(Chapter 3) in The Making of Modern Turkey (New York: Routledge), 31-51.

Kahraman, Hasan Bülent (2005) ‘Cultural and Historical Origins of Turkish Citizenship’ in Keyman and İçduygu (eds.) Citizenship and Identity in a Globalizing World: European Questions and Turkish Experiences (London: Routledge).

Kushner, David (1997) “Self Perception and Identity in Contemporary Turkey” Journal of Contemporary History, 32 (2): 219-233.

Zubaida, Sami (1996). “Turkish Islam and National Identity” Middle East Report, No. 199, Turkey: Insolvent Ideologies, Fractured State: 10-15.

Berkes, Niyazi (1964) ‘Birth of a Nation under Fire’ in The Development of Secularism in Turkey (Montreal: McGill University Press), 431-460.

Berkes, Niyazi (1959) ‘Introduction’ to Turkish Nationalism and Western Civilization,Selected Essays of Ziya Gökalp (New York: Columbia University Press).

3 Six Arrows of Kemalism Required Readings:

Zürcher, Erik (1994) ‘The Emergence of the One-Party State, 1923-7’ in Turkey: A Modern History (New York: Tauris), 173-183.

Ahmad, Feroz (1993) ‘The New Turkey: Politics (1923-1945)’(Chapter 4) in The Making of Modern Turkey (New York: Routledge), 52-72.

Özbudun, Ergun (1981) ‘The Nature of Kemalist Political Regime’, in A. Kazancıgil and E. Özbudun (eds.) Atatürk: Founder of a Modern State, (London: C. Hurst & Company), 79-102.

Öztürkmen, Arzu (1994) “The Role of People’s Houses in the Making of National Culture in Turkey” New Perspectives on Turkey, 11: 159-181.

Owen, Roger and Pamuk, Şevket (1998) ‘Turkey 1918-1945’ in A History of Middle Eastern Economies in the 20th Century (New York: Tauris), 10-29.

Berkes, Niyazi (1964) ‘Part 3’ in The Development of Secularism in Turkey (Montreal: McGill University Press), 461-478.

Recommended Readings:

Davison, Andrew (2003) “Turkey, A Secular State?: The Challenge of Description”, South Atlantic Quarterly, 102 (2/3): 333-350.

Earle, Edward Mead (1925) “The New Constitution of Turkey”, Political Science Quaterly, 40 (1): 73-100.

Brockett, Gavin D (1998) “Collective Action and the Turkish Revolution: Towards a Framework for the Social History of the Ataturk Era, 1923-38”, Middle Eastern Studies, 34 (4): 44-66

Karpat, Kemal H. (1974) “The Impact of People’s Houses on the Development of Communication in Turkey: 1931-1951, Die Welt des Islams, New Ser. 15 (1/4): 69-84.

Bozdoğan, Sibel (1994) “Architecture, Modernism and Nation-Building in Kemalist Turkey, New Perspectives on Turkey, 10: 37-55.

Birtek, Faruk. (1985). “The Rise and Fall of Etatism in Turkey 1932-1952”, Review, VII (3): 407-438.

Karpat, Kemal (1959) ‘Chapter Three’ in Turkey's Politics: The Transition to a Multi-Party System (Princeton: Princeton University Press)

4 Rise of Turkish Bourgeoisie Required Readings:

Ahmad, Feroz (1980), "Vanguard of a Nascent Bourgeoisie: The Social and
Economic Policies of the Young Turks 1908-1918," in Osman Okyar and Halil
İnalcık (eds.), Social and Economic History of Turkey(1071-1920), Ankara
1980, 329-350.

Owen, Roger and Pamuk, Şevket (1998) ‘Turkey 1946-1990’ in A History of Middle Eastern Economies in the 20th Century (New York: Tauris), 104-125.

Ahmad, Feroz (1980) “The Political Power of the Turkish Bourgeoisie Has Been Increasing with Every Decade”, MERIP Reports, 84: 19-22.

____________(1998) “The Development of Capitalism in Turkey” Journal of Third World Studies 15 (2): 137-144.

Buğra, Ayse (1994) ‘Political and Institutional Context of Business Activity in Turkey’ in Oncü et al. (eds.) Developmentalism and Beyond, Society and Politics in Egypt and Turkey (Cairo: The American University Press), 233-255.

Yalman, Galip (2002) The Turkish State and Bourgeoisie in Historical Perspective: A Relativist Paradigm or A Panoply of Hegemonic Strategies? in The Politics of Permanent Crisis: Class, Ideology and State (New York: Nova Publishers).

Chibber, Vivek (2005) ‘Reviving the Developmental State: The Myth of National Bourgeoisie’, Socialist Register, Online available  http://sociology.fas.nyu.edu/docs/IO/225/reviving.pdf (Dec. 30th 2005)

Recommended Readings:

Keyder, Çağlar (1994) ‘The Agrarian Background and the Origins of Turkish Bourgeoise’ in A. Öncü, Ç. Keyder and Saad Eddin İbrahim (eds.), Developmentalism and Beyond: Society and Politics in Egypt and Turkey (Cairo: The American University of Cairo Press), 44-74.

Buğra, Ayşe (1994) State and Business in Modern Turkey: A Comparative Study (Albany: State University of New York Press), (also available in Turkish)

Toprak, Zafer (1995) Türkiye'de Ekonomi ve Toplum (1908-1950) Milli Burjuvazi, Milli Iktisat - Milli Burjuvazi, Istanbul; Tarih Vakfi Yurt Yayinlari (in Turkish).

Göçek, Fatma Müge (1996) Rise of the Bourgeoisie, Demise of Empire: Ottoman Westernization and Europe (New York: Oxford University Press)

5 Civil-Military Relations in Turkey Required Readings:

Narli, N. (2000) “Civil-military relations in Turkey” Turkish studies, 1 (1), 107-127.

Karpat, Kemal H. (1970) "The Military and Politics in Turkey, 1960-64: A Socio-Cultural Analysis of a Revolution," American Historical Review, 75 (6): 1654-83.

Tachau, Frank, and Metin Heper (1983) "The State, Politics, and the Military in Turkey," Comparative Politics, 16 (1): 17-33.

Turan, Ilter (1997) “The military in Turkish politics” Mediterranean Politics, 2 (2), 123-135.

Ahmad, Feroz (1981) “Military Intervention and the Crisis in Turkey” MERIP Reports, 93, Turkey: The Generals Take Over: 5-24.

Sakallıoğlu, Umit Cizre (1997) “The Anatomy of the Turkish Military’s Political Autonomy, Comparative Politics, 29 (2): 151-166.

Güney, A., & Karatekelioglu, P. (2005) “Turkey's EU candidacy and civil-military relations: Challenges and prospects”, Armed forces and society, 31 (3): 439-462.

Aydınlı, E., Özcan, N. A., D. Akyaz (2006) “The Turkish Military’s March toward Europe,” Foreign Affairs, January/February. 

Recommended Readings:

Rustow, Dankwarrt A. (1959) “The Army and the Founding of the Turkish Republic” World Politics, 11 (4): 513-552 (strongly recommended)

Özbudun, Ergun (1966) The Role of the Military in Recent Turkish Politics. (Occasional Papers in International Affairs, No. 14.) Cambridge: Center for International Affairs, Harvard University.

Heper, Metin, and Ahmet Evin, (eds.) (1988) State, Democracy, and the Military: Turkey in the 1980s (New York: de Gruyter).

Vaner, Semih (1987) ‘The Army’ in Shick and Tonak (eds.) Turkey in Transition (New York: Oxford University Press), 236-265.

Sakallıoğlu, Umit Cizre (2004) Problems of Democratic Governance of Civil Military Relations in Turkey and EU Enlargement Zone, European Journal of Political Research, 43: 107-125. 

6 Political Islam Required Readings:

Mardin, S. (1977) “Religion in modern Turkey” International Social Science Journal, 29 (2): 279-297.

Nasr, V.  (2004) “Islamic political identity in Turkey” Perspectives on Politics, 2 (3): 626-627.

Yavuz, M. H. (1997) “Political Islam and the Welfare (Refah) Party in Turkey”, Comparative Politics, 30: 63-82.

Onis, Ziya (1997) “The Political Economy of Islamic Resurgence in Turkey: The Rise of Welfare Party in Perspective”, Third World Quarterly, 18 (4): 743-766.

Gole, Nilufer (1997) “The Quest for the Islamic Self within the Context of Modernity” in Bozdoğan and Kasaba (eds.) Rethinking Modernity and National Identity in Turkey (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press), 81-94.

Berkes, Niyazi (1964) The Development of Secularism in Turkey (Montreal: McGill University Press), 471-500.

Recommended Readings:

Mecham, R. Q. (2004) “From the ashes of virtue, a promise of light: The transformation of political Islam in Turkey”, Third World Quarterly, 25 (2): 339-

Narli, N. (1999) “The rise of the Islamist movement in Turkey” MERIA: Middle East Review of International Affairs, 3 (3): 38-48.

Sakallıoğlu, Umit Cizre (1996) “Parameters and Strategies of Islam-State Interaction in Republican Turkey” International Journal of Middle East Studies, 28 (2): 231-251.

Heper, Metin (1991) “The State, Religion and Pluralism: The Turkish Case in Comparative Perspective, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 18 (1): 38-51.

Hanioglu, Sükrü (1997) “Garbcilar: Their Attitudes toward Religion and Their Impact on the Official Ideology of the Turkish Republic”, Studia Islamica, 86: 133-158.

7 Mid-Term  
8 State and Civil Society in Turkey Required Readings:

Mardin, Serif (1973) “Center-Periphery Relations: A Key to Turkish Politics”, Daedalus, 102: 169-190.

Mardin, Serif (1995) ‘Islam and Civil Society’ in Hall (ed.) Civil Society: Theory, History, Comparison (Cambridge: Polity Press). 

Heper, Metin (1992) ‘The Strong State and Democracy: The Turkish Case in Comparative and Historical Perspective’ in Eisenstadt (ed.) Democracy and Modernity (Leiden: Brill), 142-164.

Göle N. (1994) ‘Toward an Autonomization of Politics and Civil Society in Turkey’ in Heper and Evin (eds.) Politics in Third Turkish Republic (Boulder: Westview Press), 213-222.

Karaman L. and B. Aras (2000) “The Crisis of Civil Society in Turkey” Journal of Social and Economic Research, 2 (2): 39-58. (Online available, Dec 30, 2005 http://jesr.journal.fatih.edu.tr/TheCrisisofCivilSocietyinTurkey.pdf)

Turam, B. (2004) “The politics of engagement between Islam and the secular state: Ambivalences of 'civil society'” The British journal of sociology, 55 (2): 259-281.

Recommended Readings:

Mardin, Serif (1969) “Power, Civil Society and Culture in the Ottoman Empire (in Societies and Cultures)”, Comparative Studies in Society and History, 11 (3): 258-281.

Heper, Metin (1988) ‘State and Society in Turkish Political Experience’ in Evin and Heper (eds.) State, Democracy, and the Military: Turkey in the 1980s (New York: de Gruyter), 63-80.

Navaro-Yashin, Yael (1998) “Uses and Abuses of ‘State and Civil Society” in Contemporary Turkey’, New Perspectives on Turkey 18, pp. 1-22.

9 Globalization and its Impacts on Turkey (1980s and After) Required Readings:

Ahmad, Feroz (1993) ‘Military Intervention and Political and Economic Restructuring (1980-1991)’(Chapter 9) in The Making of Modern Turkey (New York: Routledge), 181-213.

Cizre, U., & Yeldan, E. (2005) “The Turkish encounter with neo-liberalism: Economics and politics in the 2000/2001 crises”, Review of International Political Economy: RIPE, 12 (3): 387.

Keyder, Çağlar (2004) “The Turkish Bell Jar” New Left Review, 28: 65-84.

Öniş, Ziya (2004) “Turgut Özal and his Economic Legacy: Turkish Neo-Liberalism in Critical Perspective” Middle Eastern Studies 40 (4): 113-134.

Buğra, Ayşe (2003) “The Place of Economy in Turkish Society” The South Atlantic Quarterly 102 (2/3): 453-470.

Yesilada, Birol Ali (1988) “Problems of Political Development in the Third Turkish Republic”, Polity, 21 (2): 345-372.

Recommended Readings:

Kalaycioglu, E. (1997) “The logic of contemporary Turkish politics”, MERIA: Middle East Review of International Affairs, 1 (3)

Kirisci, K. (2004) “Between Europe and the Middle East: The transformation of Turkish policy”, Middle East Review of International Affairs Journal, 8 (1): 39-51.

Aydın, Sanem and F. Keyman (2004) “ European Integration and the Transformation of Turkish Democracy” Online Available (Jan 3, 2006) http://shop.ceps.be/BookDetail.php?item_id=1144

Yalman, Galip (2002) The Turkish State and Bourgeoisie in Historical Perspective: A Relativist Paradigm or A Panoply of Hegemonic Strategies? in The Politics of Permanent Crisis: Class, Ideology and State (New York: Nova Publishers).

10 Political Parties in Turkey Required Readings:

Kınıkoğlu Suat (2002) ‘The Democratic Left Party: Kapıkulu Politics par excellence,’ in Heper and Rubin (eds.) Political Parties in Turkey  (Frank Cass), 4-25.

Alev Çınar and Burak Arıkan (2002) ‘Nationalist Action Party: Representing the State, the Nation or the Nationalists?’ in Heper and Rubin (eds.) Political Parties in Turkey  (Frank Cass), 25-41.

Ersin Kalaycıoğlu (2002) ‘The Motherland Party: The Challenge of Institutionalization in a Charismatic Leader Party,’ in Heper and Rubin (eds.) Political Parties in Turkey (Frank Cass), 41-62.

Birol Yeşilada (2002) ‘The Virtue Party’ in Heper and Rubin (eds.) Political Parties in Turkey (Frank Cass), 62-82.

Ümit Cizre (2002) ‘Life and Times of True Path Party,’ in Heper and Rubin (eds.) Political Parties in Turkey (Frank Cass), 82-102.

Ayşe Güneş-Ayata (2002) The Republican People’s Party,’ in Heper and Rubin (eds.) Political Parties in Turkey (Frank Cass), 102-122.

Aylin Güney (2002) ‘People’s Democracy Party,’ in Heper and Rubin (eds.) Political Parties in Turkey (Frank Cass), 122-138.

Hale, William (2005) “Christian democracy and the AKP,” Turkish Studies, 6 (2): 293-310.

11 Party System and Voting Behavior Required Readings:

Sayarı, Sabri (2002) ‘The Changing Party System’ in S. and Y. Esmer (eds.) Politics, Parties and Elections in Turkey (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Pub.)

Tachau, Frank (2002) ‘An Overview of Electoral Behaviour: Toward Protest or Consolidation of Democracy?’ in S. and Y. Esmer (eds.) Politics, Parties and Elections in Turkey (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Pub.)

Esmer, Yılmaz (2002) ‘At the Ballot Box: Determinants of Voting Behavior’ in S. and Y. Esmer (eds.) Politics, Parties and Elections in Turkey (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Pub.)

Ayata, A. and S. Ayata (2002) ‘Ethnic and Religious Bases of Voting’ in S. and Y. Esmer (eds.) Politics, Parties and Elections in Turkey (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Pub.)

Kalaycıoğlu, E. (1994) "Elections and Party Preferences in Turkey: Changes and Continuities in the 1990s," Comparative Political Studies, 27 (3): 402-424;

Recommended Readings:

Özbudun, E. (1980) "Turkey" in J.M. Landau, E. Ozbudun and E. Tachau, eds., Electoral Politics in the Middle East: Issues, Votes and Elites. London: Croom Helm. Pp. 107-143;

Secor, A. J. (2001) “Ideologies in crisis: Political cleavages and electoral politics in Turkey in the 1990s” Political Geography, 20 (5): 539-560.

Özbudun, E. and E. Tachau (1975) "Social Change and Electoral Behaviour in Turkey: Toward a Critical Realignment," International Journal of Middle East Studies, 6: 460-480;

Sayari, S. (1978) "The Turkish Party System in Transition". Government and Opposition, 13: 617-635. 

Ahmad, F. (1984) “The Turkish Elections of 1983”, MERIP Reports, Turkey under Military Rule:  122: 3-11.

12 Student Presentations  
13 Student Presentations  
14 Student Presentations  
15 Conclusions  

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES
Textbook -
Additional Resources -

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING
Documents Required readings and documents can be found both in the Reserve section of the library and in the bookstore.
Assignments Handouts explaining the assignments will be given in class.
Exams Exams will be given in class.

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES NUMBER PERCENTAGE
Mid-terms 1 .25
Presentation 1 .25
Research Paper 1 .50
Total   100
CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE   0
CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE   100
Total   100

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
No Program Learning Outcomes Contribution
1 2 3 4 5  
1 The ability to analyze and critically evaluate basic research models, approaches and intellectual traditions in the field of political science, international relations, comparative politics, Turkish politics and foreign policy. To demonstrate the ability to create innovative and original contribution to the field by specializing and expanding on these models and approaches.         X  
2 To demonstrate the ability to make original contributions to the field with an interdisciplinary approach.         X  
3 A command of basic research models and approaches of political science and international relations discipline and the ability to apply them in academic research and project design.         X  
4 Having the ability to compare, contrast and analyze societal and political systems with an interdisciplinary approach.         X  
5 Having a command of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods and abiding by the highest levels of academic and research ethics.         X  
6 The ability to contribute to the progress of the field of political science and international relations by conducting original and independent studies that produce original thought, methods, models, and applications to the field and/or utilize existing ideas, methods, models, and applications in another field of study.         X  
7 The ability to contribute to the progress of the field of political science and international relations by publishing at least one academic article at a refereed journal and/or by producing or interpreting an original contribution.   X        
8 To develop current and advanced level of data into original thought and research as a specialist. The ability to develop original ideas and methods in the field of political science and international relations.         X  
9 The ability to debate and make presentations within an intellectual framework, and the ability to express oneself in a professional and academic manner. The ability to apply academic writing and presentation methods to dissertations, articles, and project design.     X      
10 Having advanced reading, writing, comprehension and speaking skills in the English language.         X  
11 Having the ability to apply knowledge of political science and international relations discipline to information technologies and traditional tools so as to produce sound solutions to problems.   X        
12 Having the competency to work in the public sector, NGOs, research institutions and the academia.   X        
13 Having empathy towards diverse and differing communities, which will facilitate conducing teamwork at local as well as global platforms.         X  
14 Having competency of comprehending and interpreting local and global issues through information exchange with international academics and students.       X    

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Activities Quantity Duration
(Hour)
Total
Workload
(Hour)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 16 3 48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 16 10 160
Mid-terms 1 17 17
Research Paper 1 40 40
Presentation 1 10 10
Total Work Load     275
Total Work Load / 25 (h)     11
ECTS Credit of the Course     11