Civil Society Debate in Turkey

An analysis of the debate revolving around the concept of civil society in Turkey shows that despite the seeming variety of approaches there is an underlying commonality among the widespread usages of the concept. These seemingly different approaches in the end become the versions of the same hegemonic view. This, in turn, causes a vicious circle in the civil society debate in Turkey. What constitutes the basis upon which this hegemonic view is built is the central premises of the liberal idea of civil society. With its constant reference to the strong state-weak civil society dichotomy; to the ‘ideal'' of civil society as a checking mechanism over the state; and to a particular understanding of pluralism without antagonism and with an emphasis on consensus, this view underlies the majority of scholarly works in Turkey. However, important aspects of civil society are ignored by this hegemonic position.