A NEW LEADER IN TURKISH POLITICS AFTER SEPTEMBER 12, 1980: TURGUT ÖZAL

Authors : Süleyman AŞIK

Pages : 223-246

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Publication Date : 2020-07-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Turgut Özal, along with Süleyman Demirel, was the person to be mentioned as the new leader in Turkish right-wing political tradition, following late Adnan Menderes who had been the leader of Democratic Party insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(DP);. Özal did not actually have a long political background. He was 56 when he entered politics. His previous attempts to enter politics had been fruitless. Taking advantage of the political circumstances of the 1980 Turkish coup d`état, Turgut Özal entered the arena as the founding leader of the Motherland Party insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Anavatan Partisi, ANAP); and became Prime Minister in the very first general elections that he ran as a leader. During the ten years insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1983-1993); when he was active in politics, his primary goal was, in his own words, a `transformation` in Turkey. His performance was often discussed in his time and is still researched and discussed today. Especially with the economic policies that he implemented, he turned Turkey into a country that is more open to and integrated into the world. However, his policies also drew serious reaction in some circles. On the other hand, there were also instances where he did not display a fully democratic image during some in-party conflicts and practices. For example, he became President in 1989 and played a major role in determining the next party leader as well as the prime minister. This particular situation caused much reaction, even within his own party ANAP. In addition, his interventions in the practices of the ANAP government during his term as President as well as his taking the initiative into his own hands from time to time show that he also had the characteristics of a dominant leader. However, going out of his depth in balancing the tendencies in ANAP since 1987 and his inability to establish the authority he desired to have in his former party following his presidency also demonstrate that Özal was/could not be a leader who had the absolute power to dominate his party with what he had. In this study, the leadership characteristics of Turgut Özal, who had an important place in recent Turkish political history, will be discussed and examined. In this context, Özal`s speeches in this period, the words spoken about him, and the evaluations made about him will be used.
Keywords : Turgut Özal, ANAP, the Motherland Party, Leadership, Politics