Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
2SBU521Turkish Politics3+0+03702.01.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (Non-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 the framework of the academic discipline of political science. Throughout the semester, the course will analyze 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. Particular emphasis will be placed on the impact of the 19th-century Tanzimat reforms, which were at the center of modernization efforts in the Ottoman Empire, on late Ottoman political life and the subsequent trajectory up to the present day. By highlighting similarities and differences between periods and actors, and by addressing the changing political and socio-economic factors, the course aims to enable students to build an academic bridge between the past and the present, establish cause-and-effect relationships, and develop 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, political changes and continuities, the activities and intellectual sources of political movements, and the relationship between political thought and institutions in Turkey from historical, structural, ideological, and policy perspectives. The course is organized into three main sections. The first section examines the modernization and political transformation process in 19th-century Ottoman political life, including the Tanzimat reforms, the Young Turks, and the Committee of Union and Progress. It then focuses on the establishment of the republican regime with its institutions and ideology, analyzing the characteristics of the single-party period, the transition to multi-party politics, and political developments up to the post-2002 era. The second section highlights the structural and ideological dimensions of political change in Turkey. It discusses Şerif Mardin’s ‘Center-Periphery Relations’ framework, Niyazi Berkes’ approach to modernization in Turkey, as well as the formation of the modern state and the efforts of the Turkish Enlightenment, with particular emphasis on Kemalism and Atatürkism. The third section addresses significant political and socio-cultural elements that have undergone change within Turkish political life. Topics include political culture in Turkey, political parties, constitutions and political systems, religion and politics, secularism, and civil-military relations.

Starting from the 10th week, in addition to lectures and discussions, students will present their research assignments in class. These assignments are designed to help students apply the historical perspectives and conceptual frameworks they have learned to explain and understand concrete political issues, while also encouraging them to engage in 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. BURÇİN 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 be able to identify and understand the significant historical changes and transformations influencing Turkish political life, together with the fundamental concepts and assumptions related to these processes.
2 Students will be able to recognize and critically assess the main approaches to political change in Turkey.
3 Students will be able to comprehend and critically evaluate the historical transformation processes, events, and conceptual perspectives that constitute Turkish political life, identifying their strengths and weaknesses in explaining and understanding Turkey’s political problems.
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 perspectives and cultures.
6 Ability to discover and acknowledge recent developments and the variety of scholarly perspectives on Turkish political life in comparative terms

 
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 Modernization in the Ottoman Empire: The Abdulhamid II Period (1876–1908) Karpat (2014): 68-82; Hanioğlu (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 26-32 -
4 Modernization in the Ottoman Empire: The Young Turks and the Committee of Union and Progress Karpat (2014): 83-107; Kayalı (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 33-44 -
5 World War I, 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) Karpat (2014):139-160; Savrun (2018) (Acar, ed.): 155-200 -
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 The Democrat Party Era (1950–1960) Karpat (2014): 169-175; Çavuşoğlu (2018) (Acar, ed.): 333-365 -
9 Post-1960 Turkish Political Life Karpat (2014): 179-268; Kalaycıoğlu (2019) (Kalaycıoğlu ve Sarıbay, ed.): 515-543 -
10 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 -
11 Atatürkism and the Turkish Enlightenment Movement 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 -
12 “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 -
13 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 -
14 Religion, Politics, and Secularism in Turkey Özdalga (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 267-280; Toprak (2016) (Heper ve Sayarı, ed.): 281-292 -
15 Review Session and Questions & Answers - -

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

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