Economic Management under the Presidential System of Government in Turkey: Beyond the Depoliticization versus Repoliticisation Dichotomy

Passage to Presidential System of Government in Turkey in 2018 meant a leap in the state's neoliberal transformation since the 1980s. In the economic field, this led to politicized, centralized and personalized management practices in contrast to the earlier neoliberal mottos of depoliticization, decentralization and institutionalization. This article presents a detailed critical analysis of politicized government strategies during the August 2018 currency crisis to highlight class-based historical continuities underlying this shift from depoliticization to repoliticisation. Rethinking Peter Burnham's arguments on depoliticization, it argues that the turn towards politicization in economic management is indicative of a more fundamental depoliticization process engendered at the level of structured social relations due to enhanced capitalist subordination of state and society by financialisation in Turkey.

Automated summary

This article provides a detailed critical analysis of politicized government strategies during the August 2018 currency crisis in Turkey, highlighting the class-based historical continuities underlying this shift from depoliticization to repoliticisation in economic management.