Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
2SBU521Turkish Politics3+0+03703.01.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (With Thesis)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The aim of this course is to examine the history of political practices and ideas in Turkey within an academic discipline. Throughout the semester, the course will broadly address the development of political thought in Turkey and the relationship between politics and institutions. Taking into account that many political debates of the late Ottoman Empire were inherited by the Republic, the course will analyze the impact of the 19th-century Tanzimat reforms—central to the Ottoman modernization efforts—on late Ottoman political life and trace the process up to the present day.

By highlighting differences and similarities across periods and actors, and by addressing the changing political and socio-economic factors, the course seeks to enable students to build bridges between past and present from an academic perspective, establish cause-and-effect relationships, and enhance their analytical thinking skills. Another objective is to adapt the scope and depth of the topics covered to the time allocated during the semester.
Course Content This course analyzes Turkey’s political life, focusing on political changes and continuities, the activities and intellectual sources of political movements, the development of political thought, and the relationship between politics and institutions. The analysis is conducted through historical, structural, ideological, and policy dimensions.

The course is organized into three main sections:

Historical Foundations

Modernization and political transformation in 19th-century Ottoman political life

Tanzimat reforms, the Young Turks, and the Committee of Union and Progress

The establishment of the republican regime, its institutions and ideology

The single-party era, the transition to multi-party politics, and political developments up to the post-2002 period

Structural and Ideological Dimensions

Şerif Mardin’s “Center–Periphery Relations” framework

Niyazi Berkes’ approach to modernization in Turkey

The formation of the modern state and efforts of the Turkish Enlightenment

Analyses of Kemalism and Atatürkism

Political and Socio-Cultural Dynamics

Political culture in Turkey

Political parties, constitutions, and the political system

Religion and politics, secularism, and civil–military relations

From the 10th week onwards, students will present their research projects in class, complementing lectures and discussions. These projects aim to equip students with the ability to apply historical perspectives and conceptual frameworks to explain and understand concrete political issues, while encouraging advanced reading and research.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture
Discussion
Small Group Work
Group Work
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Burçin ULUĞ burcin.eryilmaz@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources -
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Course Notes -

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Assignment 1 % 20
Attendance 14 % 10
Practice 1 % 10
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
17
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 5 75
Assignments 1 40 40
Presentation 1 10 10
Final examination 1 40 40
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 7 210

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Students will have knowledge of the major historical changes and transformations that have shaped Turkish political life, as well as the key concepts and assumptions associated with these developments.
2 Students will demonstrate awareness of the main approaches when assessing different perspectives on political change in Turkey.
3 Ability to explain and understand Turkish political life by critically engaging with historical transformations, events, and conceptual frameworks, evaluating their strong and weak aspects.
4 Students will acquire comprehensive knowledge of the analytical methods relevant to the subject matter
5 Students will be able to assume responsibility in group settings and engage in discussions with respect for diverse ideas and cultures
6 Students gain awareness of the diversity and emerging developments in the study of Turkish political life by employing comparative analysis.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Course Description and Introduction - -
2 Ottoman Modernization: Early Reform Movements and the Tanzimat Era (1839–1876) Karpat (2014): 13-67; Hanioğlu (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 17-32) -
3 Ottoman Modernization: The Reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876–1908) Karpat (2014): 68-82; Hanioğlu (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 26-32 -
4 Ottoman Modernization during the Young Turks and Union and Progress Era Karpat (2014): 83-107; Kayalı (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 33-44 -
5 World War I, the National Liberation Movement, and the Foundation of the Republic Karpat (2014): 111-138; McMeekin (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 45-57 -
6 The Atatürk Era in Turkish Political Life (1923–1938) -
7 The İnönü Era and the Transition to Democracy (1938–1950) Karpat (2014): 161-168; Kara (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 277-289 Atagenç (2018) (Acar, ed.): 201-235 -
8 Mid-term Week/ Submission of Research Papers - -
9 Democrat Party Rule in Turkey (1950–1960) Karpat (2014): 169-175; Çavuşoğlu (2018) (Acar, ed.): 333-365 -
10 Turkey’s Political Life in the Post-1960 Era Karpat (2014): 179-268; Kalaycıoğlu (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 515-543 -
11 Two Approaches to Turkish Politics and Modernization: Şerif Mardin and Niyazi Berkes Mardin (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay,ed.): 115-143; Berkes (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 149-173 -
12 Atatürk’s Principles and the Turkish Enlightenment Kazancıgil (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 191-212; Kılıçbay (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 215-222; Heper (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 245-275; Heper (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 185-196 -
13 Civil–Military Relations; Political Culture; Political Parties Karaosmanoğlu (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 197-209; Kalaycıoğlu (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 225-238; Turan (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 480-512; Sayarı (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 239-252 -
14 Constitutions and the Political System Özbudun (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 253-265; Kalaycıoğlu (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 423-445; Acar (2018) (Acar, ed.): 703-721 -
15 Religion and Politics; Secularism Özdalga (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 267-280; Toprak (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 281-292 -

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
C1 4 5 3 3 5 4 4 4 4 5 2
C2 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 3
C3 3 5 4 4 5 3 3 5 3 5 3
C4 4 4 2 3 5 5 2 5 4 3 3
C5 2 3 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 4
C6 4 4 4 5 4 4 2 5 5 4 4

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant