Democratization steps and CHP's attitude in Turkey between 1946-1954

The aim of this study is to reveal the attitude of CHP towards democracy and democratization steps by examining the impacts of national, international and other factors of transition to a multi-party life, which is a turning point in Turkish political life. As a result of the liberalization steps CHP initiated in 1946, the party fell from power in 1950. It is aimed to discuss the approach of the party to democracy before and after 1950 through the political developments of the period. It is thought that the study will contribute to the literature of Turkish political life by analyzing the approach of CHP, as Turkey's most institutional party, to democracy while in power and in opposition. In this context, the study has been analyzed in three parts: the period of the "Millî Şef" (National Chief) in 1939 - 1946, the period of CHP power in the multi-party life of 1946 - 1950, and the opposition period of the CHP in the multi-party life of 1950 - 1954. The study thematically focused on the steps of democratization, in particular the political developments that took place in the mentioned time period. In the study, historical analysis technique, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. In this context, parliamentary minutes of proceedings, newspaper reports, political memoirs, statements of political actors and the studies of researchers and academics who worked in this period were used. The study concluded that the steps taken by CHP in democratization before 1950 and what they wanted from the government after 1950 were compatible, but the political power of the period interrupted these steps, however, CHP's steps to democratize the party, which it started before 1950, continued after 1950 as well.