Democratic Transition and the Rise of Populist Majoritarianism

This comparative study explores the impact of populist majoritarianism on Greek and Turkish democratic transition. Using case studies from Greece and Turkey, the author argues that while majoritarianism is often celebrated as a manifestation of popular sovereignty, it can undermine institutional performance and even stifle the process of democratic consolidation, contributing to a confrontational and inefficient democratic regime in cases of transition states where levels of social capital are low and social polarization is high. It is shown that building up a mild democracy requires maturity of institutions and an efficient system of checks and balances and implementation control mechanisms, while building consensus and trust in societies torn by ethnic, religious and ideological divides is not a luxury but a permissive condition for democratic consolidation and economic prosperity. This book will be of use to students and scholars interested in the fields of Greek and Turkishpolitics, comparative politics and democracy.

Makes a significant contribution to the literature of Greek and Turkish politics Argues that the dominance of majoritarianism can be a hindrance to democratic consolidation Uses a combination of qualitative research methods, content analysis and case studies to compare the two countries Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Auteur
Ioannis N. Grigoriadis is Associate Professor and Jean Monnet Chair of European Studies at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Bilkent University, Turkey. He is the author of Instilling Religion in Greek and Turkish Nationalism: A Sacred Synthesis (2012) and Trials of Europeanization: Turkish Political Culture and the European Union (2009).

Contenu

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter2: Democratic Transition in Greece.- Chapter 3: Democratic Transition in Turkey.- Chapter 4: The Rising Tide of Majoritarianism in Greece.- Chapter 5: The Rising Tide of Majoritarianism in Turkey.- Chapter 6: Majoritarianism and State Performance.- Chapter 7: Conclusions.