Analysis of the central exam and placement system in entrance to civil service in Türkiye

The main purpose of this thesis is to analyze the process of entering the civil service in Türkiye and the phenomenon of central examination-central placement in a comprehensive manner. The study examines the transformation of the public personnel system from a centralized structure to a fragmented structure from the pre-Republic period to the present day, taking 1999 as a reference, within a historical and analytical framework. In this context, PPSE, central placement and exceptional civil servants are discussed in detail. This research employed a mixed methodology, encompassing the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data ranging from legal regulations to official statistics (SPP, MSPC and Presidency of Strategy and Budget), to examine transformations in public personnel management. This method provided both an in-depth understanding of the topic and empirical support with numerical data. The analyses conducted revealed that despite the efforts of public personnel administration in Türkiye to take merit and objectivity as a basis throughout the radical changes, the operation of the central placement system was significantly affected by the conditions in certain periods. The fluctuations in the number of positions and actual placements announced in central placements between 1999-2024 reveal the direct relationship between public personnel recruitment policies and political, economic and administrative developments. In addition, exceptional civil servant appointments, which narrow the scope of the central examination system and expand over time, seriously question the principles of merit and equal opportunity in civil service. As a result, it has been understood that the central examination and placement system in Türkiye, despite targeting merit, exhibits a complex and fragmented structure due to external factors and exceptional appointments. This situation affects the effectiveness of the central system and the standardization of entry into civil service, deepening the tension between merit and political discretion. This study has made a significant contribution to the literature by addressing the public personnel system and central recruitment processes with their current dynamics.