Pressure groups in Turkish foreign policy: The case of TUSIAD

"The model of pluralist society" regarding the spread of politics in society can be solved the best by using group theory. According to the theory, it is accepted that organized groups are effective on political system. In 1908, A.F. Bentley emphasized his paper whose title is "The Process of Government" is that "When the groups are adequately stated, everything is stated". TUSIAD is an organization that owns strong members financially has upper grade relations with the government in Turkey. With its feature, TUSIAD tries to press the government in the process of the decision-making. TUSIAD compels the government in some specific subjects which is related to the benefits of its members. The impacts of TUSIAD on the government as a pressure groups are not only limited in the domestic affairs but also Turkish foreign affairs. However, when the their own features of foreign policy are taken into consideration and thinking of constitutional framework of the Turkish foreign policy, it is discussable that how much foreign policy is opened to outside effects in its traditional structure. TUSIAD has accepted clearly that the membership of Turkey to EU depends heavily on the solution of Cyprus disagreement. So, in this context, it has been continued to lobbying activities in order to create a public opinion on behalf of TUSIAD by using all media tools. Essentially, there is no relation between the process of membership to EU and Cyprus disagreement in legal manner. The main aim of the study, from stating initially the term of pressure group, examining the formation of pressure groups in Turkey in the context of the relations in state-civil society from the period of Ottomon Empire to now and after scruntizing the decision-making process underlying general characteristic features of Turkish foreign policy, is to try to display the impacts of TUSIAD as a pressure groups, on foreign policy in Turkey. It is concluded that TUSIAD has got an the identity of pressure group and especially interested in Turkish foreign policy closely from 1980. VIII