"Examining Local Democracy in Turkey"
Guliz Belcher, University of Massachusetts
Moderated by Nuh Yilmaz, Director, SETA Foundation
November 18, 2010 at 12pm
One of the most important issues for the prospects of Turkish democratization, not addressed in the constitutional amendment package of September 2010, is the issue of "local government" reform. Although substantial changes have been introduced to the administrative structure, financial capabilities, and various functions of local governments with reforms passed by the Turkish parliament in 2004, 2005, and 2007, the central administration's tutelage over local authorities still prevails. This presentation will critically examine the current state of "decentralization" through the lens of participatory democracy and good governance.
*** The objective of the Young Scholars on Turkey Program (YSOT), co-sponsored by SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. and the Institute of Turkish Studies (ITS), is to provide young social scientists with a venue to present their policy relevant, original academic research in the nation's capital Washington D.C. For further information about the program, please visit http://www.setadc.org/ysot