The Process of Democratic Consodilation in Turkey
ECEM HAPÇIOGLU
1605161
Democratic Consolidation in Turkey In general, as far as democracy and democratic consolidation in one country and state come to mean that democracy is the form of political government manner in which all of the eligible citizens claim their rights in an equal manner in order to decide their own lives and government bodies. According to Russell Hanson, “the people sought and gained power and influence in the name of democracy” (68). In this regard, democracy requires the citizens to participate the governing parts of the state, either through elected representatives or through the creation of laws. Hence, it is considered that democracy is the way of government of the people, as well as the representation of the people in the government. Accordingly, democracy gives importance to the fundamental freedom and the fundamental rights of people. In this regard, as Becker and Raveloson claim, “human rights are much more than a mere component of democracy. They represent sine qua non requirements for the well performing of a democratic system. The development and evolution of human rights are only possible when humans live in a democracy” (4). What is more, according to Becker and Raveloson, in democratic systems, people themselves put the laws which work and function through the three Powers in governments: legislative power, executive power and judiciary power. The separation of these powers makes up the essence of democracy (Becker and Raveloson 5). Also, democracy is based on the rule of law, in which people constitute laws through representatives in parliaments, which determine and make laws. Laws in a state prevent the tyrannical and absolutist government, as well as despotism; rather the laws require the equality of citizens before the laws. In this respect, the consolidation of parliamentary system is the essential body of the democratic government states, which gives way to the separation of powers into three as legislative, executive
1605161
Democratic Consolidation in Turkey In general, as far as democracy and democratic consolidation in one country and state come to mean that democracy is the form of political government manner in which all of the eligible citizens claim their rights in an equal manner in order to decide their own lives and government bodies. According to Russell Hanson, “the people sought and gained power and influence in the name of democracy” (68). In this regard, democracy requires the citizens to participate the governing parts of the state, either through elected representatives or through the creation of laws. Hence, it is considered that democracy is the way of government of the people, as well as the representation of the people in the government. Accordingly, democracy gives importance to the fundamental freedom and the fundamental rights of people. In this regard, as Becker and Raveloson claim, “human rights are much more than a mere component of democracy. They represent sine qua non requirements for the well performing of a democratic system. The development and evolution of human rights are only possible when humans live in a democracy” (4). What is more, according to Becker and Raveloson, in democratic systems, people themselves put the laws which work and function through the three Powers in governments: legislative power, executive power and judiciary power. The separation of these powers makes up the essence of democracy (Becker and Raveloson 5). Also, democracy is based on the rule of law, in which people constitute laws through representatives in parliaments, which determine and make laws. Laws in a state prevent the tyrannical and absolutist government, as well as despotism; rather the laws require the equality of citizens before the laws. In this respect, the consolidation of parliamentary system is the essential body of the democratic government states, which gives way to the separation of powers into three as legislative, executive
Cited: Akgün, B. “Aspects of Party System Development in Turkey”. Turkish Studies, Volume 2, Number 1, 1 2001 , pp. 71-92. Becker, Paula, and Raveloson, Jean-Aime. “What is Democracy?”, Septembr 2008, Retrieved in 03 November 2012, from http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/madagaskar/05860.pdf Danilkina, Irına. “TURKEY: The Party System from 1963 to 2000”. Retrieved in 02 November 2012, from http://janda.org/ICPP/ICPP2000/Countries/7-MiddleEastNorthAfrica/78-Turkey/Turkey63-00.htm Geyikçi, Şebnem. “The Impact of Parties and Party Systems on Democratic Consolidation: The Case of Turkey”. http://www2.lse.ac.uk/europeanInstitute/research/ContemporaryTurkishStudies/PaperSYG20111.pdf Grigoriadis, Ioannis. “Turkey’s Accession to the European Union: Debating the Most Difficult Enlargement Ever”, SAIS Review of International Affairs, Vol. 26, No. 1, Winter-Spring, 2006. Pp. 147-160. Hanson, Russell. “Democracy”. Political Innovation and Conceptual Change”. Ed. Terence Ball et al. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1989. Ilkay Sunar and Sabri Sayari, “Democracy in Turkey”. Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions About Uncertain Democracies, ed. Guillermo O’Donnell and Philippe C. Schmitter. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1986. Özbudun, Ergun. Contemporary Turkish Politics: Challenges to Democratic Consolidation. London, Lynne, 2000.