Testing Large Business's Commitment to Democracy: Business Organizations and the Secular-Muslim Conflict in Turkey

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In this Subject: Political Science
By this author: Yavuz, Devrim

Author: Yavuz, Devrim

Source: Government and Opposition, Volume 45, Number 1, January 2010 , pp. 73-92(20)

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Abstract:

This article argues that the Turkish economic elite - represented by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD) - has preserved its liberal democratic stance despite tensions between the religious Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the secularist establishment. Although secular itself, large business maintained a moderate position in the conflict and has continued to push for democratization thanks, in part, to organizational factors that ensure consistency in the larger goals of the association. The article thus claims that studying business as organization rather than business as capital can help the comparative literature understand how entrepreneurs' commitment to democracy under capitalism can become long term.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-7053.2009.01296.x

Publication date: 2010-01-01