Democracy and Capitalism in Turkey: The State, Power, and Big Business

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While a positive correlation between capitalism and democracy has existed in Western Europe and North America, the example of late-industrializing nations such as Turkey has demonstrated that the two need not always go hand in hand, and sometimes the interests of business coincide more firmly with anti-democratic forces. This book explores the factors that compelled capitalists in Turkey to adopt a more pro-democratic ideology by examining a leading Turkish business lobby (TSIAD) which has been pushing for democratic reform since the 1990s, despite representing some of the largest corporation owners in Turkey and having supported the states authoritarian tendencies in the past such as the military coup of 1980. Drawing on roughly 70 interviews with influential members of TSIAD and individuals close to them, the book reveals that business leaders were willing to break away from the state due to the conflict between their evolving economic needs and power with a political elite and state that were unwilling to cater to their demands. In so doing, the book provides a rich account of business-state relations in Turkey as well as providing a case study for the wider study of democracy and capitalism in developing nations.

Reviews

Does the development of capitalism help or hinder democratization This is a brilliant contribution to that debate, based on remarkable access to the Turkish business elite, concluding with careful distinctions between state power and the most recent ideological pressures. The book certainly deserves the widest readership. * John A. Hall, Emeritus James McGill Professor of Sociology, McGill University, Canada *
This book will create a much-needed debate by bringing Turkeys capitalists to the forefront to scrutinize state-business relations. Based on in-depth qualitative interviews, Devrim Yavuz analyzes how the countrys wealthiest business elite have played complex leading roles in shaping democratization since 1960s and in navigating through the reversal of democracy in the new millennium. This is a must read for the students and scholars of state-society interaction. * Berna Turam, Professor of Sociology and International Affairs, Northeastern University, USA *
In this fascinating account of state-business relations, Yavuz examines how and why the Turkish business elite became agents of democracy. This insightful and persuasive account moves beyond explanations that consider economic interests as the most critical variable explaining capitalists actions. Instead, Yavuz directs our attention to the workings of ideological and political power in determining the course and salience of capitalists push for regime change. * Yesim Bayar, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Saint Lawrence University, USA *

Author Bio

Devrim Adam Yavuz is Assistant Professor at Lehman College of the City University of New York, USA, where he teaches in the areas of political sociology and classical theory. He has published articles in peer-review journals such as Sociology and Government and Opposition.