Transition to democracy in Turkey within the framework of exit practices from authoritarian systems

Theories of transition to democracy focus on the transformation process of authoritarian systems into a multi-party democratic system. Authoritarian regimes, which are oppressive in nature and generally one-party systems, can undergo radical changes with mutually interacting domestic and foreign political developments. At this point, the administrators of the regimes may or may have to decide to transition to a democratic government. The transition process, which has been examined under the concept of transition theories or transitology in the field of political sciences; It is generally explained by three basic models: reform, rupture and contract. The authoritarian one-party rule in Turkey lasted until 1945. After the Second World War, the decision to transition to democracy was made due to the effect of the political conjuncture and the pressure in the domestic politics in parallel. It is not possible to explain the transition process with a single model. A two-stage model was applied. It started with the reform model. However, the controversial elections in 1946 and a series of undemocratic practices that followed turned into political tension between the parties and this model came to an impasse. Political tension could have bring the possibility of a reversal or a sharp break on the agenda at any moment. President İnönü, the most powerful actor of the regime, played the role of arbitrator between the parties. In this context, with the 12 July Declaration he writes up, the contract model phase was started. The declaration, in overcoming the impasse, has been the seal of the transition process and the bond of the continuity of the democratic system. Compromise will require payment of a price for both parties. This payment, was realized in the form of mutually silencing and eliminating of the contradictory voices in the government and the opposition. With the purges, the transition process progressed more smoothly. In addition, a suitable environment has been provided for arrangements to consolidate the transition.