Emre Balikci, a lecturer from the Department of Economics, recently published a review of “Democracy and Capitalism in Turkey: the State, Power, and Big Business,” by Devrim Yavuz in the Journal of the Ottoman and Turkish Studies Association.
In his analysis, Balikci highlights the book’s exploration of the relationship between democracy and big business in Turkey. He discusses how each chapter contributes to a deeper understanding of the country’s political landscape. For example, he notes that the early chapters provide essential background information for readers unfamiliar with Turkish politics and history. He also emphasizes the significance of Chapter six, which focuses on the factors influencing shifts in democracy outlined in the book.
While Balikci acknowledges the book’s strengths, he also identifies areas of weakness: he argues that it lacks comprehensiveness and does not introduce new information. Despite these shortcomings, he concludes his review by stating that “Yavuz’s book serves as a great introduction for those who are interested in the economic history of Turkey.”