Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
4POLS 272Turkish Political History3+0+03529.07.2026

 
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and Public Administration (English)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The purpose of this course is to examine important events, processes, currencies of thought, movements and individuals that left their mark on Turkish political life from the past to the present. The course examines the institutional and normative structure of the Turkish Republic with a view from democracy, human rights, rule of law, good governance, welfare and political peace. It thus makes a historical review of Ottoman modernization, Early Turkish Republic, Post-WWII Turkish Democracy, Democrat Party and Justice Party Experiences, Military Tutelage, Constitutions, Significant personalities, crises of various types by the Turkish democracy, the late AK Party Experience, the ongoing JDP-RPP competition, and so on and so forth.
Course Content Late Ottoman reformation and modernization, Constitutionalism in Ottoman-Turkish Society, New Turkish Republic, Democrat Party, Justice Party, Multiparty Politics, 1982 Constitution, Özal and Demirel in Turkish Political Life, AK Party Governments in Succession, Elections and Alliances.
Course Methods and Techniques
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. HAKAN KÖNİ
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Feroz Ahmad, 1993, The Making of Modern Turkey. London: Routledge.
Özbudun, E. (2011). The constitutional system of Turkey: 1876 to the present. Springer.
Metin Heper and Sabri Sayarı (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Modern Turkey. London: Routledge.

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
Mid-terms 1 % 30
Assignment 1 % 25
Attendance 1 % 5
Final examination 1 % 40
Total
4
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 3 42
Assignments 1 15 15
Mid-terms 1 20 20
Final examination 1 30 30
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 4,96666666666667 149

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Analyzes key events, processes, schools of thought, and actors that shaped Turkish political life.
2 Evaluates the constitutional and institutional development of Turkey from Ottoman modernization to the present.
3 Comprehends the transition to multi-party system, democratic crises, military tutelage, and coalition governments.
4 Examines the Turkish political structure within the framework of democracy, human rights, rule of law, and good governance.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction — —
2 Turkish Political Institutions from the Past to the Late Ottomans I — —
3 Turkish Political Institutions from the Past to the Late Ottomans II — —
4 Ottoman Political, Institutional and Ideational Modernization — —
5 Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in the Late Ottomans — —
6 Republicanism and Reformation in the Early Turkish Republic — —
7 Political Views and Practices of Republican Political Actors — —
8 Midterm Exam — —
9 Turkish Democratic Experiment in 1950s — —
10 1961 Constitution and the New Turkish Democracy — —
11 Radicalism, Polarization and Fragmentation of 1970s — —
12 New Turkish Experiment from 1982 — —
13 Coalitions, Democratic Deficit and Crises of 1990s — —
14 Politics of AK Party and CHP Competition from 2000s — —
15 Final Exam — —

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
All 4 1 3 5 2 1 1 2 1 1
C1 4 1 3 5 2 1 1 2 1 1
C2 4 1 3 5 3 1 1 2 1 3
C3 3 1 4 5 3 1 1 3 1 1
C4 3 1 4 4 5 1 1 3 2 3

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