The effects of presidency in ethno-culturally diverse states: the case of Turkey

The article studies main theoretical approaches in the field of managing ethno-cultural diversity in divided societies - consociationalism and centripetalism. The presidential semi-presidential and parliamentary systems are analyzed through the lens of these two approaches. The article shows on the Turkish example that new states often apply nationalizing strategies of ethnic diversity management aimed at minority assimilation. This strategy in Turkey led to ethnicity politization, ethnic conflicts and ethnic terrorism. Turkish elites have never raised the issue of the Kurdish segment participation in the decision-making process as a separate recognized segment. Institutional transformations, i.e. from parliamentary to premier presidential and then to presidential systems were also aimed at maintaining the nationalizing strategies of ethnic conflict management. The article analyzes the prospects of application of consociational and centripetal institutional arrangements. The consociational mechanisms application are hindered by the dominance of the Turkish segment, nonrecognition of the Kurdish segment and disunity among the Kurds. The article concludes that the present presidential system sets structural conditions for centripetal model of conflict management. The Justice and development party is the only party which could become the moderate center for this model. The article concludes that the solution to the Kurdish question could be proposed before the next parliamentary and presidential elections. In order to win the elections in 2023 the party and president Recep Erdoğan will have to set the course for integration of Turkish kurds simultaneously with strengthening border security.

президентская система, консоционализм, центрипетализм, Турция, курдский сегмент, национализаторская политика, presidentialism, consociationalism, centripetalism, Turkey, Kurdish segment

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