Democratization and Authoritarian Drift in Türkiye: The Democrat Party Era, 1950-1960
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20800521Keywords:
Türkiye, Democrat Party, Democratization, Authoritarian DriftAbstract
This study examines the processes of democratization and authoritarianism during the Democrat Party era in Türkiye, within a historical, structural, and political context. Representing democratic hopes following the transition to a multi-party system, the Democrat Party quickly gained the support of broad segments of the population and initially implemented reforms that strengthened participatory democracy. However, this reformist approach gradually gave way to authoritarian practices. The reduction of political legitimacy to mere electoral success, the suppression of opposition, the restriction of freedom of expression, and interference in institutional domains such as the judiciary and academia led to the erosion of democratic structures. The study examines how, during a period when the dynamics of democratization and authoritarianism became intertwined, the leadership-centered governance model and deepening political polarization compromised institutional functioning and public trust. Economic crises, the rise of nationalist rhetoric, and the influence of foreign policy emerge as key factors fueling authoritarian tendencies. The findings of this study indicate that the experience of the Democrat Party era demonstrates that sustainable democratization in Türkiye requires not only institutional arrangements but also a transformation of political culture.
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