Capital, the State and Democratization: The Case of Turkish Industry

Abstract

There has been debate on the nature of the link between capitalist development and democracy on the one hand, and on the primacy of economic and political factors in determining the relationship on the other. Part of the discussion revolves around capital, which has championed democracy in some instances and has been a conservative force in others. This article examines large Turkish business and the reasons that have compelled it to push for significant democratization at the risk of breaking away from the political elite. In-depth interviews reveal that the evolution of the private sector and internationalization of the economy have created a set of opportunities making democracy particularly appealing to large entrepreneurs. However, the Turkish case also indicates that it is a combination of these factors with the state’s lack of responsiveness to the needs of capital that made democracy particularly salient.