Turkish big business in the age of democratic consolidation: the nature and limits of its influence

Abstract

The article addresses the nature and limits of the contribution of big business to democratic consolidation by focusing on the role of TÜSİAD, the major association of big business interests in Turkey, during the country’s democratisation process in the 2000s. While TÜSİAD has been an important pro-democratisation actor, big business’s contribution to the consolidation process is contingent on the broader institutional and political environment. The issues of secularism and EU membership prospects play an important role in Turkish politics and in understanding TÜSİAD’s stance, as they have constrained its ability to act as the vanguard of democratisation reforms.