Transformation of politics in Turkey: An analysis of dichotomous conceptual models

This study aims to investigate the validity of "dichotomous conceptual models", which are put forward to explain politics in Turkey, by focusing on the political transformation in the period extending from 1990's to 2010's. The major argument of this study is that dichotomous conceptual models, which include the models of Şerif Mardin's "center-periphery", Metin Heper's "transcendent state – society", İdris Küçükömer's "Proponents of westernization/ secularist - Proponents of easternization/ Islamist" front and Emre Kongar's "statist preeminent - traditionalist liberal" front, have lost their validity in terms of considering political change in Turkey since last three decades. In this regard, this study explores how the economic, the social and the political structural transformations altered the nature of Turkish politics and weakened the strength of dichotomous conceptual models in terms of explaining Turkish politics. Pluralist group approach is adopted to analyse social - political transformation experienced in Turkey after 1990. This study also proposes an alternative conceptual model to explain the reshaped political life around the political transformations in Turkey. This alternative conceptual model, which is based on multi-dimensional, multi-actoral and group-based approach, is called 'total politics' for Turkish politics. In the framework of total political analysis, it is claimed that politics in Turkey, is shaped around power struggles between social groups at the level of civil society, political realm and the power realm and these power struggles occur with-in and between groups.