The Role of Bureaucracy in Turkey's Democratization Process: One-Party Period and Transition to Multi-Party System

Abstract

This study aims to scrutinize the role, function and the attitude of the bureaucracy in the process of democratization. In this context, this historical study examining the process of democratization in Turkey from the proclamation of the republic to the transition to a multiparty system briefly discusses the relationship between bureaucracy and democracy from a theoretical perspective. Afterwards, the formation of a bureaucratic management tradition, which has an important place in Turkish political life, has been mentioned in this historical research, which has a significant place in Turkish political life, has been addressed. The role of the bureaucracy in the process of democratization during the one-party period and the change that has occurred in this process with the transition to a multi-party system were subsequently examined. In conclusion, in the Turkish context it is observed that there is a dilemma between bureaucracy and democracy, the bureaucracy had negatively affected the process of democratization, it was more effective in one-party period, and the power of bureaucracy was relatively weakened with the transition to a multi-party system. Yet, the tradition of bureaucratic tutelage has lasted its effects to this day and this situation harm the process of democratization.