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by Ioannis N. Grigoriadis (Author)
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 Turkish politics, comparative politics and democracy.
Back Jacket
This comparative study explores the impact of populist majoritarianism on Greek and Turkish democratic transition. Using the case studies of Greece and Turkey, the author argues that while majoritarianism is often celebrated as a manifestation of popular sovereignty, it can undermine institutional performance. In cases of transition states where social capital is scarce and polarization is high, it can even upset the process of democratic consolidation, contributing to a confrontational and inefficient democratic regime. A "mild democracy" would require a calibrated system of checks and balances, trust- and consensus-building mechanisms. This book will be of use to students and scholars interested in the fields of Greek and Turkish politics, law and democratization.
Author Biography
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).
