Information Package
baskent.edu.tr

Program of Political Science and International Relations (English 30%)

PSIR346

CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY IN TURKEY

Course Code
PSIR346
Semester
-
Theory+Practice
3 + 0
ECTS
5
Course TypeElective Course
Course LevelBachelor's Degree
Year of Study-
Semester-
ECTS5
Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

  1. Understand the reasons behind the increasing popularity of civil society since the late 1980s and especially 1990s.
  2. Learn the different coneptualizations of civil society in classical and modern political thought.
  3. Grasp the main fault lines of the debate on civil society both in Turkey and in the world.
  4. See where these debates turn into a vicious circle.
  5. Comprehend the main tenets of different political analyses regarding the historical background of state- (civil) society relations in Turkey.
  6. Understand why strong state-weak civil society dichotomy is often taken as the most important socio-political problem in Turkey
Mode of DeliveryFace to face
PrerequisitesNo
Recommended Optional Programme ComponentsThere is no recommended optional programme component for this course
Course DescriptionThis course is designed to critically evaluate the development of civil society organizations in Turkey. The course consists of four subsections. In the first sub-section (Weeks 2 and 7), the historical development of civil society, its relationship with democracy, and concepts related to civil society will be discussed. A midterm exam (written) will be held in Week 8; in the third sub-section (Weeks 9 and 13), the conceptual and practical development of democracy and civil society in Turkey will be examined. The fourth sub-section will feature current debates on the decline of democracy and populism, as well as a term-end assignment (Week 14) in which students analyze a civil society organization.
Course Contents
WEEK TOPICS
1st Week Course Introduction (General Information, Getting to Know Each Other)
2nd Week The Concept of Democracy, Democratic Systems
3rd Week Discussion on Different Models of Democracy
4th Week The Concept of Civil Society, Fundamental Theories
5th Week Discussion on Different Concepts of Civil Society (Liberal, Pluralist)
6th Week Discussion on Different Concepts of Civil Society (Republican, Marxist)
7th Week Midterm Exam
8th Week Examining the Relationship Between Democracy and Civil Society
9th Week The Development of Democracy in Turkey
10th Week The Background of Civil Society in Turkey
11th Week Understanding the Dynamics of Civil Society in Turkey-1 (Strong State, Weak Society)
12th Week Understanding the Dynamics of Civil Society in Turkey-2 (Islam and Civil Society)
13th Week Understanding the Dynamics of Civil Society in Turkey-3 (Professional Organizations and Civil Society)
14th Week Current Debates (The Decline of Democracy, Populism, and Civil Society)
Recommended or Required ReadingBumin, Kürşat. Sivil Toplum ve Devlet, Kavramlar, Deneyler, Arayışlar, Yazarlar ve Çevirmenler Yayın Üretim Kooperatifi, 1981.
Cohen, Jean L, Arato, Andrew. Sivil Toplum ve Siyasal Teori, Ed. A. Argun Akdoğan, Efil, 2013.
Çınar, Menderes (Editör). Demokrasi, Kavram, Kurum, Süreç, İletişim, 2023.
Dahl, Robert A. Demokrasi Üstüne, Çev. Betül Kadıoğlu, Phoneix, 2001.
Dahl, Robert A. ?Polyarchy Participation and Opposition?, Yale University Press.
Ehrenberg, John. Civil Society The Critical History of An Idea, New York University Press, 1999.
Kean, John. Demokrasi ve Sivil Toplum, Çev. Necmi Erdoğan, Ayrıntı, 1994.
Liphart, Arend. Demokrasi Modelleri Otuz Altı Ülkede yönetim Biçimleri ve Performansları, Çev. Güneş Ayas ve Utku Umut Bulsun, İthaki, 2014.
Mardin, Şerif. Türkiye?de Toplum ve Siyaset, İletişim, 2024.
Onbaşı, Funda. Sivil Toplum, L&M yayınları, 2005.
Savran, Gülnur Acar. Sivil toplum ve Ötesi, Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, Dipnot, 2022.
Süngü, Tayyar. Demokraside Gerileme Sürecinin Kavramsal ve Olgusal İncelenmesi: Türkiye-Polonya Üzerinden Karşılaştırmalı Bir Analiz, Nobel, 2026.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Presentation
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Quantity Percentage (%)
Mid-term 1 30
Assignment 1 20
Project 1 10
Total(%) 60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%) 60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%) 40
Total(%) 100
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam 1 3 3
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work 14 4 56
Preparation for Final exam
Course hours 14 3 42
Preparation for Midterm exam 1 9 9
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam
Homework 1 40 40
Project
Total Work Load150
Total Work Load / 30 (h)5
ECTS Credit of the Course5
Language of InstructionTurkish
Work Placement(s)No

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5 X
K6 X X X
K7 X X X
K8 X
K9
K10
K11
K12
K13