In this study, the relationship between the labour unions and tlie state in Turkey during 1946-1980 era is analysed with the help of the application of the corporatist model. By identiiymg the dominant model tliat emerged in this relationship as mainly a variant of state corporatism, it is proposed that radicahsation and instabilty of the pre-1980 era, especially of the 1970s, was related to state attempts to install corporatist structures, rather than excessive demands of the labour unions. The inquiry begins with the summary of the theoretical concepts central to this study. In the first chapter, the major varieties of state and liberal corporatism that have been identified in the most important studies on coiporatism is outlined and the conditions that have proposed to explain the rise and demise of different kinds of corporatist systems are summarised, hi the following chapters, concepts presented by the corporatist theory are tried to be applied to Turkey wliile the development of Turkish miionism is examined historically.