Information Package / Course Catalogue
Selected Topics in Turkish Politics
Course Code: INT423
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: English
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 7
Objectives of the Course

This course aims to introduce the students that selected topics of Turkish politics which would include modernization, democratization, etc. Depending on the interests of the students the themes will most probably include transition to multi-party period and chaotic years of the 1970s, military interventions, rise of political Islam and rise of Kurdish nationalism, Turkish nationalism, and conservativeness, current attempts to write new constitution amendments and current agenda of Turkish politics.

Course Content

The main issues in Turkish politics will be discussed with a critical approach. In the axis of concepts such as democratization and modernization, the transition to multi-party life in Turkish politics, the eventful years of the 1970s, military coups, the increase in political Islam and Kurdish nationalism, Turkish nationalism and conservatism, efforts to write a new constitution and current issues will be covered.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.To be able to learn selected issues in Turkish politics
2.To be able to explain the concept of modernity and the central role of modernization in the establishment of the Turkish Republic
3.To be able to discuss the debate on Islam and secularism as one of the main axes of Turkish politics
4.To be able to evaluate the Kurdish issue and ethnic violence debates
5.To be able to develop critical reading skills by reading, analyzing and discussing texts in depth
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Erik Jan Zürcher, Turkey: A Modern History, New York: I.B. Tauris, 1993.
2.William Hale, Turkish Politics and the Military, London: Routledge, 1994.
3.Umit Cizre eds., Islamic and Secular Politics in , The Making of the Justice and Development Party, New York and London: Routledge, 2008.
4.Kalaycıoğlu, E. ve A. Y. Sarıbay, Turkish Political Life: Political Change and Modernization in Turkey, Ankara: Sentez Yayınları, 2016.
5.Kırık H. ve O. Morva, Republic and Pragmatism, İstanbul: Doruk Yayınları, 2016.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction to the course and a discussion on the issues that would be covered in the course
Week 2 - Theoretical
Modernization in Turkey
Week 3 - Theoretical
Democratization: Transition to Multi-party period and Democrat Party
Week 4 - Theoretical
1960s in Turkish Politics
Week 5 - Theoretical
Democratization: Chaotic Years of 1970s
Week 6 - Theoretical
Reversal of Democratization: 1980 military intervention
Week 7 - Theoretical
Political Islam and Conservatism
Week 8 - Theoretical
Authoritarianism in Turkish Politics
Week 9 - Intermediate Exam
Midterm exam
Week 10 - Intermediate Exam
Midterm exam
Week 11 - Theoretical
Challenges to democratic consolidation in Turkey: Topics will be selected by the students
Week 12 - Theoretical
Challenges to democratic consolidation in Turkey: Topics will be selected by the students
Week 13 - Theoretical
Challenges to democratic consolidation in Turkey: Topics will be selected by the students
Week 14 - Theoretical
Challenges to democratic consolidation in Turkey: Topics will be selected by the students
Week 15 - Theoretical
Challenges to democratic consolidation in Turkey: Topics will be selected by the students
Week 16 - Final Exam
Final exam
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142370
Reading51320
Individual Work141242
Midterm Examination115116
Final Examination125227
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)175
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
OÇ-1
3
3
4
3
3
4
OÇ-2
4
3
4
4
4
4
OÇ-3
4
3
4
3
4
3
OÇ-4
4
4
3
3
3
3
OÇ-5
4
4
3
3
4
3
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026