Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences

SUBMITINFORMATION
EnglishTürkçe

Research Article


DOI :10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156   IUP :10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156    Full Text (PDF)

Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles

Mertcan Şafak Sağlam

Several significant social changes have occurred during the 21-year tenure of the Justice and Development Party (JDP) government in Turkey. However, the scholarship on this period either utterly disregards the working class or depicts it as a passive demographic that is only affected by these changes. In other words, in the literature, the working class lacks agency. To fill this gap, this study examines the JDP government’s role in in relation to working class struggles. This analysis is based on labor protests between 2001 and 2019, obtained through newspaper reports of labor unrest. Based on this analysis, the JDP rule is divided into two periods: before and after 2010. In both periods, I illustrate that the working class was an agent of transformations, and it influenced transformations through bargaining processes and conflicts. In line with this analysis, this paper illustrates that the balance of power and class struggles between social classes constitutes an objective basis for understanding social and political transformations. Accordingly, based on new data, this study also contributes to the scholarly debate on authoritarianism, with an emphasis on the working-class agency.

Keywords: Justice and Development Party, Working class, Authoritarianism, Class struggles, Neoliberal transformation

PDF View

References

  • Akçay, Ü. (2021). Authoritarian consolİdatİon dynamİcs İn Turkey. Contemporary Politics, 27(1), 79-104. google scholar
  • Akkaya, Y. (1999). 1990'lı Yıllarda Türkiye'de Grevler. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, 54(2). google scholar
  • AKP önünde İmam eylemİ. (8.2.2011). Cumhuriyet, p. 9. google scholar
  • AKP’nİn Taksİm Projesİ’ne karşı Taksİm Dayanışması kuruldu. (02.03.2012). Retrieved from https://haber.sol.org.tr/kent-gundemleri/ akpnin-taksim-projesİne-karsİ-taksim-dayanismasi-kuruldu-haberİ-52230 google scholar
  • Bahçe, S., and Köse, A. H. (2017). Social Classes and the Neo-Liberal Poverty Regime in TurkeY, 2002-2011. Journal of ContemporaryAsıa, 47(4), 575-595. google scholar
  • Bankayı hortumcular kapatamaz. (2001, June 10, 2001). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • Birelma, A., Işıklı, E. and Sert, H. D. (2024). The stubborn persistence of working-class protest İn Turkey in an age of authoritarian neoliberalism. Turkish Studies, 25(1), 64-91. google scholar
  • Boratav, K. (2018). Türkiye İktisat Tarihi. Ankara: İmge Kitabevİ. google scholar
  • Bozkurt-Güngen, S. (2018). Labour and Authorİtarİan Neolİberalİsm: Changes and Continuities Under the AKP Governments İn Turkey. South European Society and Politics, 23(2), 219-238. google scholar
  • Bulut, Ç. K. (2010). Ülke-Gündem-Dİrenİş. In G. Bulut (Ed.), TEKEL Direnişinin Işığında Gelenekselden Yeniye İşçi Sınıfı Hareketleri (pp. 317-368). Ankara: Nota Bene YaYınları. google scholar
  • Bütün çocuklar rİsk altında. (24.2.2012). Cumhuriyet, p. 4. google scholar
  • Can Gürcan, E., and Peker, E. (2015). A class analYtİc approach to the GeZİ Park events: Challengİng the ‘mİddle class’ mYth. Capital & Class, 39(2), 321-343. google scholar
  • Çadırkent'İn muhtarı da oldu. (20.2.2010). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • Çakır, M. (4.4.2011). ‘İş güvencesİ İstİYoruz’. Cumhuriyet, p. 8. google scholar
  • Çalışkan, K. (2018). Toward a new political regİme İn Turkey: From competİtİve toward full authoritarianism. New Perspectives on Turkey, 58, 5-33. google scholar
  • Çelİk, A. (1996). Bahar EYlemlerİ, 1989. In Türkiye Sendikacılık Ansiklopedisi (pp. 103-104). google scholar
  • Çelİk, A. (2014). Mücadeleden VesaYete TürkİYe'de Kamu Görevlİlerİ Sendİkacılığı. Eleştirel Pedagoji, 34, 22-27. google scholar
  • Çelİk, A. (2015). Turkey's New Labour Regİme Under the Justİce and Development PartY İn the Fİrst Decade of the TwentY-Fİrst Century: Authorİtarİan FlexİbİlİZatİon. Middle Eastern Studies, 51(4), 618-635. google scholar
  • Davİd, I., & Toktamış, K. F. (2015). Introductİon google scholar
  • GeZİ İn Retrospect. In I. Davİd and K. F. Toktamış (Eds.), Everywhere Taksim (pp. 15-26): Amsterdam UnİversİtY Press. google scholar
  • Derneğİ, İ. H. (2013). Gezi Parkı Direnişi ve Sonrasında Yaşananlara İlışkın Değerlendirme Raporu. Retrİeved from Ankara: google scholar
  • Devlet adaletİ sağlasın. (8.7.2019). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • Doğan, M. G. (2018). Örgütlü İşçİ Hareketİnİn Sİndİrİlmesİ. In İ. Akça, A. Bekmen, & B. A. ÖZden (Eds.), "Yeni Türkiye'ye Varan Yol (pp. 261,278). İstanbul: İletİşİm. google scholar
  • DönmeZ, P. E. (2020). Agaİnst austerİtY and repressİon: Hİstorİcal and contemporarY manİfestatİons of progressİve polİtİcİsatİon İn TurkeY. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 39(3), 512-535. google scholar
  • Earl, J., Martİn, A., McCarthY, J. D., & Soule, S. A. (2004). The Use of Newspaper Data İn the StudY of Collectİve Actİon. Annual Review of Sociology, 30, 65-80. google scholar
  • Eğİtİmcİler meYdanlarda hak aradı. (26.4.2007). Cumhuriyet, p. 9. google scholar
  • Eğİtİmcİler meYdanlarda. (8.4.2007). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • Eğİtİmcİlerden sevk eYlemİ. (22.4.2007). Cumhuriyet, p. 4. google scholar
  • Emek Çalışmaları Topluluğu. (2021). İşçi Sınıfı Eylemleri Raporu 2021. Retrİeved from emekcalİsma.org. google scholar
  • Emekçİlerden 2 saatlİk uYarı. (14.3.2008). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • Emekçİlere Polİs Jopu. (2.4.2008). Cumhuriyet, p. 1. google scholar
  • Emlak Bankası çalışanları: TasfiYe İstemİYoruZ. (MaY 18, 2001). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • Emlakbank çalışanları aYakta. (2001, MaY 19, 2001). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • Emlakbank'ta tepkİler büYüYor. (2001, June 17, 2001). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • Ercan, F., & OğuZ, Ş. (2015). From GeZİ resİstance to Soma massacre: Capİtal accumulatİon and class struggle İn TurkeY. Socialist Register, 51(1), 114-135. google scholar
  • Erol, M. E. (2019). State and Labour under AKP Rule İn TurkeY: An Appraİsal. Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, 21(6), 663-677. google scholar
  • Esen, B. and Gumuscu, S. (2016). Rİsİng competİtİve authorİtarİanİsm İn TurkeY. Third World Quarterly, 37(9), 1581-1606. google scholar
  • Esen, B., & Gumuscu, S. (2021). WhY dİd Turkİsh democracY collapse? A polİtİcal economY account of AKP’s authorİtarİanİsm. Party Politics, 27(6), 1075-1091. google scholar
  • FranZosİ, R. (1987). The Press as a Source of Socİo-Hİstorİcal Data: Issues İn the MethodologY of Data Collectİon from Newspapers. google scholar
  • Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History, 20(1), 5-16. google scholar
  • GeleceğİmİZ karartılıYor. (2001, MaY 28, 2001). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • Gençler, A. (2010). 2001 Ekonomik Krizin Bankacılık Sektöründe İstihdama Etkisi. Journal of Social Policy Conferences, 50, 351-365 google scholar
  • GlombİtZa, O. (2021). From exceptİonalİsm to normalİZatİon: the radİcal transformatİon of the Republİc of TurkeY. Turkish Studies, 22(2), 167-175. google scholar
  • Hava-İş Sendİkasından KamuoYunu Bİlgİlendİrme DuYurusu. (2.3.2012). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • Hekİmler alanlara çıktı. (11.6.2004). Cumhuriyet, p. 7. google scholar
  • İnsanca Yaşam İçİn g(ö)rev. (11.3.2004). Cumhuriyet, p. 3. google scholar
  • Insel, A. (2003). The AKP and normalİZİng democracY İn TurkeY. The South Atlantic Quarterly, 102(2), 293-308. google scholar
  • İşçİler Yürüdü. (2002, 30.4.2002). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • KapatılmaYa İkİncİ keZ ret. (22.3.2005). Cumhuriyet, p. 7. google scholar
  • Karahanoğulları, Y., & DuYgu, T. (2018). Otorİter devletçİlİk, neolİberalİZm, TürkİYe. Mülkiye Dergisi, 42(3), 403-448. google scholar
  • KESK üYelerİ Ankara'Ya YürüYor. (2004, 19.11.2004). Cumhuriyet, p. 4. google scholar
  • KeYman, F., & E. Önİş, Z. (2007). GlobalİZatİon and Socİal DemocracY İn the European PerİpherY: Paradoxes of the Turkİsh Experİence. Globalizations, 4(2), 211-228. google scholar
  • KİraZ, Z., & Kurul, N. (2018). TürkİYe’de öğretmen İşsİZlİğİ ve ataması YapılmaYan öğretmenler hareketİ. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 14(1), 270-302. google scholar
  • Koç, Y. (2021). Türkiye İşçi Sınıfı Tarihi. İstanbul: KaYnak YaYınları. google scholar
  • ‘Kölelİk Yasasına haYır’. (16.1.2010). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • KöY HİZmetlerİ Genel Müdürlüğü Hakkında İftİralar ve Gerçekler. (2004, 28.2.2004). Cumhuriyet, p. 7. google scholar
  • Kus, B. (2016). Fİnancİal CİtİZenshİp and the Hİdden Crİsİs of the Workİng Class İn the "New TurkeY". Middle East Report(278), 40-48. google scholar
  • LevİtskY, S., & WaY, L. A. (2002). Electİons wİthout democracY: The rİse of competİtİve authorİtarİanİsm. Journal of democracy, 13(2), 51-65. google scholar
  • Metalde genel dİrenİş: Reno, Tofaş, CoşkunöZ, Mako’dan sonra Ototİrİm. (MuZaffer ÖZkurt, 20.5.2015). Retrİeved from https://www.evrensel.net/haber/113206/metalde-genel-dİrenİs-reno-tofas-coskunoz-makodan-sonra-ototirim google scholar
  • Müdürlüğü, T. C. Ç. v. S. G. B. Ç. G. (2016). 2015 Çalışma Hayatı İstatistikleri. google scholar
  • OrtİZ, D., MYers, D., Walls, E., & DİaZ, M. E. (2006). Where Do We Stand wİth Newspaper Data? Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 10(3), 397-419. google scholar
  • ÖZbudun, E. (2006). From polİtİcal Islam to conservatİve democracY: the case of the Justİce and Development PartY İn TurkeY. South european society & politics, 11(3-4), 543-557. google scholar
  • ÖZden, B. A., Akça, İ., & Bekmen, A. (2017). Antİnomİes of authorİtarİan neolİberalİsm İn TurkeY. States of discipline: Authoritarian neoliberalism and the contested reproduction of capitalist order, 189. google scholar
  • ÖZden, B. A., Bekmen, A., & Akça, İ. (2018). Passİve revolutİon: BeYond a polİtİcİst approach. Development and Change, 49(1), 238-253. google scholar
  • ÖZkİZİltan, D. (2019). Authorİtarİan neolİberalİsm İn AKP's TurkeY: an İndustrİal relatİons perspectİve. Industrial Relations Journal, 50(3), 218-239. google scholar
  • ÖZverİ, M. (2016). Yasaklarla Şekİllenmİş Endüstrİ İlİşkİlerİ Sİstemİ ve 2015 Metal İşçİlerİ Dİrenİşİ. Çalışma ve Toplum, 49(2), 701-725. google scholar
  • Pınar, E. (2021). A labour-orİented perspectİve on regİme dİscussİons İn TurkeY. In Regime Change in Turkey (pp. 32-48): Routledge. google scholar
  • Sağlam, M. Ş. (2023). Report on Working Class Protests between 2001-2019 in Turkey. google scholar
  • Sağlık çalışanından '15 acİl talep'. (14.4.2011). Cumhuriyet, p. 7. google scholar
  • Sağlık emekçİlerİ: SSK halkındır satılamaZ. (8.12.2004). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • Sağlık İstatistikleri Yıllığı 2018. (2018). google scholar
  • SeZal, M. A., & SeZal, İ. (2018). Dark taİnts on the lookİng glass: Whİther ‘New TurkeY’? Turkish Studies, 19(2), 217-239. google scholar
  • Sİlver, B. (2015). Emeğin Gücü: 1870'ten Günümüze İşçi Hareketleri ve Küreselleşme (A. Önal, Trans.). İstanbul: Yordam Kİtap. google scholar
  • SöZ bİttİ sıra eYlemde. (2004, 21.11.2004). Cumhuriyet, p. 9. google scholar
  • Taksİm İçİn İnsan Zİncİrİ. (4.3.2012). Cumhuriyet, p. 3. google scholar
  • Taştan, O. (2015). Türk-Metal ÜYesİ İşçİlerİn 2015 EYlemlerİ: Metal Sektöründe Fabrİka Rejİmİ ÜZerİne Mücadelelerİn Tarİhİ Açısından Bİr Değerlendİrme. Mülkiye Dergisi, 39(3), 305-342. google scholar
  • Taştekİn, U. (2019). The metal storm: 2015 wave of strikes in The Turkish automotive sector. (Yüksek Lİsans TeZİ). Orta Doğu Teknİk Ünİversİtesİ, google scholar
  • Tersane İşçİlerİ tabutla Yürüdü. (12.4.2015). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • TMMOB. (2005). 5286 Sayılı Köy Hizmetleri Genel Müdürlüğünün Kaldırılması Ve Bazı Kanunlarda Değişiklik Yapılması Hakkındaki Kanun Hukukun Genel İlkelerine Anayasal Kurallara Kamu Yararına Sosyal Devlete Aykırıdır. Retrİeved from https://www.Zmo.org.tr/ resİmler/ekler/7cfdde9db36af8e_ek.pdf?tİpİ=38&turu=D&sube=0 google scholar
  • Toker, P. B., & Angın, M. (2013). AKP Dönemİnde TürkİYe’de BüYük Ölçeklİ ÖZelleştİrmeler ve Devletİn Dönüşümü. Praksis, 31, 77-98. google scholar
  • TuZla’da İş cİnaYetlerİne protesto. (16.1.2013). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • Tüpraş çalışanları Yİne eYlemde. (2004, JanuarY 27, 2004). Cumhuriyet, p. 5. google scholar
  • Tüpraş'ta eYlemler sürüYor. (2004, FebruarY 7, 2004). Cumhuriyet. google scholar
  • Türk-İş AKP'nİn ön bahçesİ. (30.3.2008). Cumhuriyet, p. 5. google scholar
  • TürkİYe tek Yürek oldu. (12.10.2007). Cumhuriyet, p. 6. google scholar
  • UYsal, G. (2019). CharİtY state: neolİberalİsm, polİtİcal Islam, and class relatİons İn TurkeY. New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry, 10(1), 16-28. google scholar
  • ÜZüm, T. (2011). KESK TARİHİ: Kamu Çalışanlarının Sendikal Mücadele Süreci. İstanbul: Kalkedon YaYınları. google scholar
  • Yalman, G. L., & Topal, A. (2017). Labour Contaİnment Strategİes and Workİng Class Struggles İn the Neolİberal Era: The Case of TEKEL Workers İn TurkeY. Critical Sociology, 45(3), 447-461. google scholar
  • Yenİ sendİkal güç bİrlİğİne doğru. (2.7.2011). Cumhuriyet, p. 13. google scholar
  • Yörük, E. (2012). The Politics of the Turkish Welfare System Transformation in the Neoliberal Era: Welfare as Containment and Mobilization of Grassroots Politics. Johns Hopkİns UnİversİtY, Baltİmore. google scholar
  • Yörük, E., and Yüksel, M. (2015). Gezİ eYlemlerİnİn toplumsal dİnamİklerİ. Toplum ve Bilim, 133, 132-165. google scholar
  • Zaİfer, A. (2018). The Acceleratİon of PrİvatİZatİon: Understandİng State, Power Bloc, and Capİtal Accumulatİon İn TurkeY. Review of Radical Political Economics, 50(4), 810-829. google scholar

Citations

Copy and paste a formatted citation or use one of the options to export in your chosen format


EXPORT



APA

Sağlam, M.Ş. (2025). Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles. Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences, 34(1), 117-133. https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156


AMA

Sağlam M Ş. Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles. Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences. 2025;34(1):117-133. https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156


ABNT

Sağlam, M.Ş. Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles. Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences, [Publisher Location], v. 34, n. 1, p. 117-133, 2025.


Chicago: Author-Date Style

Sağlam, Mertcan Şafak,. 2025. “Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles.” Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences 34, no. 1: 117-133. https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156


Chicago: Humanities Style

Sağlam, Mertcan Şafak,. “Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles.” Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences 34, no. 1 (Apr. 2025): 117-133. https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156


Harvard: Australian Style

Sağlam, MŞ 2025, 'Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles', Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 117-133, viewed 25 Apr. 2025, https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156


Harvard: Author-Date Style

Sağlam, M.Ş. (2025) ‘Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles’, Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences, 34(1), pp. 117-133. https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156 (25 Apr. 2025).


MLA

Sağlam, Mertcan Şafak,. “Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles.” Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences, vol. 34, no. 1, 2025, pp. 117-133. [Database Container], https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156


Vancouver

Sağlam MŞ. Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles. Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences [Internet]. 25 Apr. 2025 [cited 25 Apr. 2025];34(1):117-133. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156 doi: 10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156


ISNAD

Sağlam, MertcanŞafak. “Analyzing the JDP Era through Class Struggles”. Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences 34/1 (Apr. 2025): 117-133. https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1485156



TIMELINE


Submitted16.05.2024
Accepted02.12.2024
Published Online11.04.2025

LICENCE


Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)

This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.


SHARE




Istanbul University Press aims to contribute to the dissemination of ever growing scientific knowledge through publication of high quality scientific journals and books in accordance with the international publishing standards and ethics. Istanbul University Press follows an open access, non-commercial, scholarly publishing.