Turkey's Political Leaders: Authoritarian Tendencies in a Democratic State

This longitudinal study reveals how the conduct of political leaders has been central to the shortcomings of the Turkey's democratic system. The most prominent political leaders, from the birth of the Republic until today, have all displayed a desire to sustain their rule through authoritarian and undemocratic measures. This has ensured efforts to improve, strengthen and respect democratic institutions and practices have been weak or non-existent across the multi-party era. In turn, the chapters identify how the leaders' values, beliefs and practices underwritten by authoritarianism, have resulted in the tenuous existence of democracy, oscillating between simply enduring and failure during the periods they occupied the seats of political power. By looking at the Turkish experience, the book also offers comparative lessons and insights into the role political leaders play in the survival or failure of democracy.

ISBN-13: 9781399500081

Media Type: Hardcover

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Publication Date: 04-17-2023

Pages: 256

Product Dimensions: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.75d

Series: Edinburgh Studies on Modern Turkey

Tezcan G√ºm√ºş is a Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Asia Institute, the University of Melbourne. His research interests lie in contemporary Turkish politics, politics of the Middle East and the role of elites in democratisation and democratic breakdowns. Tez has taught a number of courses on politics and international relations, and has published work in the Contemporary Islam journal. This will be his first monograph.